Stages of Breast Cancer

Stages of Breast Cancer

Stage Definition

Stage 0

Cancer cells remain inside the breast duct, without invasion into normal adjacent breast tissue.

Stage I

Cancer is 2 centimeters or less and is confined to the breast (lymph nodes are clear).

Stage IIA

No tumor can be found in the breast, but cancer cells are found in the auxiliary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm)

OR

the tumor measures 2 centimeters or smaller and has spread to the auxiliary lymph nodes

OR

the tumor is larger than 2 but no larger than 5 centimeters and has not spread to the auxiliary lymph nodes.

Stage IIB

The tumor is larger than 2 but no larger than 5 centimeters and has spread to the auxiliary lymph nodes

OR

the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters but has not spread to the auxiliary lymph nodes.

Stage IIIA

No tumor is found in the breast. Cancer is found in auxiliary lymph nodes that are sticking together or to other structures, or cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the breastbone

OR

the tumor is any size. Cancer has spread to the auxiliary lymph nodes, which are sticking together or to other structures, or cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the breastbone.

Stage IIIB

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

AND

may have spread to auxiliary lymph nodes that are clumped together or sticking to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone.

Inflammatory breast cancer is considered at least stage IIIB.

Stage IIIC

There may either be no sign of cancer in the breast or a tumor may be any size and may have spread to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast

AND

the cancer has spread to lymph nodes either above or below the collarbone

AND

the cancer may have spread to axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes near the breastbone.

Stage IV

The cancer has spread — or metastasized — to other parts of the body.

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