Breast Cancer Stages

Early stages of breast cancer:

Stage 0
Cancer cells are present in either the lining of a lobule or a duct but they have not spread to the surrounding fatty tissue

Stage I
Cancer has spread from the lobules or ducts to nearby tissue in the breast, and tumor is generally 2 cm (3/4 inches) or less in diameter; the lymph nodes are not involved

Stage II
Cancer has spread from the lobules or ducts to nearby tissue in the breast, and tumor may be 2 to 5 cm (3/4 to 2 inches) in diameter; sometimes the lymph nodes may be involved

Advanced stages of breast cancer

Stage III
Known as locally advanced cancer; tumor may be larger than 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter, and cancer may or may not have spread to lymph nodes or other tissues near the breast

Stage IV
Known as metastatic; cancer has spread from the breast and lymph nodes under the arm to other parts of the body, such as bone, liver, lung, or brain About Cancer

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