Stages of breast cancer

The 4 stages of breast cancer are:

1. Stage I

Stage I means that the cancer cells have not spread beyond the breast and tumour is not more than 2.5 cm (in diameter).

2. Stage II

Stage II means that the cancer has spread to the underarm lymph nodes and/or the tumour in the breast is more than 2.5 cm (in diameter).

3. Stage III

Stage III is also called locally advanced cancer. The tumour in the breast is more than 5 cm (in diameter) or has involved the chest wall or overlaying skin. The cancer extends to the underarm lymph nodes.

4. Stage IV

Stage IV is metastatic cancer. The cancer has spread from the breast to other organs of the body, such as the lungs, liver, brain and bone, including other lymph node groups.

Recurrent cancer

Recurrent cancer means that the disease recurs in spite of the initial treatment. Even when a tumour in the breast seems to have been completely removed or destroyed, the disease sometimes recurs because undetected cancer cells remained in the area after treatment or because the disease has already spread before commencement of treatment.