Stages of Breast Cancer

When cancer is the cause of a tumor, the tumor is called malignant. Malignant tumors can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break away from the malignant tumor and enter the blood stream or lymphatic system. By this process, breast cancer spreads and forms secondary tumors in other parts of the body. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.

There are several types of breast cancer. The most common, ductal carcinoma, begins in the lining of the ducts that link the lobules of the breast to the nipple. Another type, lobular carcinoma, begins in the large sections of the breast called lobules. Cancers that begin in the other tissues in the breast are rare.

When breast cancer metastasizes, it is often found in the lymph nodes under the arm. If the cancer has reached the nodes, it may mean that cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body.

Breast cancer is a progressive disease. As it advances it goes through various stages. These stages are described below.

Stage 0 is sometimes called noninvasive carcinoma or carcinoma in situ.

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) refers to abnormal cells in the lining of the duct. DCIS also called intraductal carcinoma. The abnormal cells have not spread beyond the duct to invade the surrounding breast tissue. However, women with DCIS are at increased risk of getting invasive breast cancer.

Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS)

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) refers to abnormal cells in the lining of a lobule. These abnormal cells seldom become invasive cancer. However, there presence is a sign that a woman has an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Stage I and Stage II

Stage I and stage II are also early stages of breast cancer, in which the cancer has spread beyond the lobe or duct and invaded nearby tissue in the breast. In stage I breast cancer, the cancer cells have not spread beyond the breast and the tumor is no more than an inch across. In stage II, the cancer has spread to underarm lymph nodes and/or the tumor in the breast is one to two inches across.

Stage III

Stage III, or locally advanced cancer, means the tumor in the breast is more than two inches across, the cancer is more extensive in the underarm lymph nodes, or is has spread to the other lymph nodes or other tissues near the breast.

Stage IV

Stage IV cancer is metastatic. The cancer has spread from the breast to other parts of the body.

Recurrent Cancer

Recurrent cancer means that the disease has reappeared, even though treatment appeared successful. Even if a breast tumor appears to be removed or destroyed, the disease can return because undetected cancer cells remain or because the disease had spread before treatment, or cells remain somewhere else in the body.

Lymphedema

Lymphedema is a condition in which excess lymph collects in tissue and causes swelling. It may occur in the arm or leg after lymph vessels or lymph nodes in the underarm or groin are removed or treated with radiation.