Breast Cancer
Early Stages of Breast Cancer
Stage 0 - In Situ*
Early diagnosis of breast cancer which has started in the breast ducts or milk glands and has not progressed to any other tissue.
* The breast cancer has stayed in the original place
Stage I - Invasive
Bresat cancer has progressed to attack healthy tissue.
Stage IA. Breast cancer has spread to the fatty breast tissue. Tumour size < 2cm
Stage IB. Small amounts of breast cancer cells can be found in a few of the lymph nodes.
Stage II
Breast Cancer has grown in size and/or spread
Stage IIA. If a tumour is present, it is small. May not have spread to the lymph nodes, or may have spread to up to 3 lymph nodes. Tumour size 2 - 5cm.
Stage IIB. Tumour has grown bigger and may or may not be in the lymph nodes.
Advanced Stages of Breast Cancer
Stage III
Breast cancer is advanced but has not progressed to the organ tissue or bones. Tumour size > 5cm.
Stage IIIA. Breast cancer has progressed to up to 9 lymph nodes that form a chain from the armpit to the collarbone. May have spread to the lymph nodes deep in the breast.
Stage IIIB. Tumour has grown into the wall of the chest and possibly the skin around the breast. May or may not have spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage IIIC. Breast cancer has progressed to up to 10 or more lymph nodes. May have spread above or below the collarbone. If lymph nodes inside the breast are affected, they are enlarged or cancerous.
Stage IV - Metastatic^
Breast cancer cells progressed far from the breast to the other organs (usually the bones, lungs, liver, and brain) and lymph nodes around the breast.
^ Breast cancer has spread to a different location from where it was first found
Cancer - Milk Duct
Normal Milk Duct
HYPERPLASIA
More cells than normal
ATYPIA
Cells become abnormal
DCIS
(Ductal Carcinoma in Situ)
Duct contains cancer cells
INVASIVE CANCER
Cancer progresses out of the duct spreading to breast tissue