The Stages of Breast Cancer

The stages of breast cancer are based on the following:

• The size of the tumor
  

• Whether or not the cancer is non-invasive or invasive
  

• Whether or not the lymph nodes are affected
  

• Whether or not the cancer has spread beyond the breast.
  

• Is non-invasive
  

• No evidence of cancer cells invading surrounding tissue
  

• Is invasive
  

• The tumor is 2 centimeters
  

• Lymph nodes are not affected
  

Stage II is divided into two categories. Stage IIA and Stage IIB.

Stage IIA

• Is invasive
  

• There is no tumor, but cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes under the arm
  

   OR

• There is a tumor measuring 2 centimeters or less and the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm
  

   OR

• There is a tumor larger than 2 centimeters, but smaller than 5 centimeters and the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes under the arm
  

Stage IIB

• Is invasive
  

• The tumor is larger than 2 centimeters, but smaller than 5 centimeters and the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm
  

           OR

• There is a tumor larger than 5 centimeters but the cancer has not spread to lymph nodes under the arm
  

Stage III is divided into three categories. Stage IIIA, Stage IIIB and Stage IIIC.

Stage IIIA

• Is invasive
  

• There is no tumor and cancer is found in the lymph nodes under the arm. The lymph nodes are attached to each other or clinging to other tissue, or the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes near the breast bone
  

OR

• The tumor is 5 centimeters or smaller and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm and the lymph nodes are attached to each other or to other tissue
  

OR

• The tumor is larger than 5 centimeters and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm and the lymph nodes are attached to each other or to other tissue
  

Stage IIIB

• Is invasive
  

• The tumor can be any size and has spread to the wall of the chest and/or the skin of the breast
  

• The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm and the lymph nodes are attached to each other or to other tissue, or the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes near the breast bone
  

• Inflammatory breast cancer is considered to be at least Stage IIIB
  

Stage IIIC

• Is invasive
  

• There may be no sign of cancer in the breast, but if there is a tumor, it can be any size and might have spread to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast
  

• The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes above or below the collarbone
  

• The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm or the breast bone
  

Stage I

Stage II

Stage III

• Is invasive
  

• The cancer has spread to other organs of the body
  

Stage 0

Stage IV