The stages of breast cancer
Sometimes your doctor might refer to the stage of your breast cancer. Stages are a way of summarising some of the information in the pathology report. Stages are numbered, ranging from zero (0) to four (IV).
In general:
- Stage 0 refers to ‘pre-invasive’ breast cancer such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
- Stage I, Stage IIA and Stage IIB (early) refer to early breast cancer
- Stage IIB (advanced), Stage IIIA, Stage IIIB, Stage IIIC, Stage IV refer to advanced breast cancer.
Table: The stages of breast cancer
| Stage | Size of the cancer | Breast cancer cells have been found in ... | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ... the lymph nodes | ... other parts of the body (such as the bones) | ||
| Stage 0 | size is not used for Stage 0 | no | no |
| Stage I | small* | no | no |
| Stage IIA | small* | yes (category 1) |
no |
| medium* | no | no | |
| no cancer is found in the breast | yes (category 1) |
no | |
| Stage IIB | medium* | yes (category 1) |
no |
| large* | no | no | |
| Stage IIIA | small* | yes (category 2) |
no |
| medium* | yes (category 2) |
no | |
| large* | yes (category 1) |
no | |
| large* | yes (category 2) |
no | |
| no cancer is found in the breast | yes (category 2) |
no | |
| Stage IIIB | any size but the cancer has spread to nearby muscles, tissue or skin |
any (can be yes or no) |
no |
| Stage IIIC | any size | yes (category 3) |
no |
| Stage IV | any size | any (can be yes or no) |
yes |
Category 1 means breast cancer cells have been found in one to three lymph nodes in the armpit.
Category 2 means breast cancer cells have been found in:
- Four to nine lymph nodes in the armpit, and the lymph nodes are also enlarged, and/or attached to each other or to nearby tissue; or
- One or more lymph nodes under the breastbone, but not in any lymph nodes in the armpit.
Category 3 means breast cancer cells have been found in:
- 10 or more lymph nodes in the armpit; or
- One or more lymph nodes above or below the collarbone; or
- One or more lymph nodes under the breastbone and 1 or more lymph nodes in the armpit.
* Size of cancer
- small - 2cm or smaller (ie., size ≤ 2cm)
- medium - more than 2cm but not larger than 5cm ( ie., 2cm < size ≤ 5cm)
- large - more than 5cm (ie., size > 5cm)
