Stages
Stages of Breast Cancer
Staging is a term medical oncologists (physicians who treat cancer) use. It defines where breast cancer is located and how much it has spread. Once the stage of breast cancer is determined, your physician can decide on a treatment plan.
Most cancer teams use the system made by the American Joint Committee on Cancer, which is called the TNM staging system.
T = Tumor: Where is the primary tumor, and how large is it?N = Nodes: Has the tumor spread to nearby lymph nodes?
M = Metastasis: Has cancer spread to other parts of the body?
For each letter, there are 5 numbered stages (0, 1, 2, 3, 4). The number is assigned based on how much the cancer has spread.
- A lower number means the cancer cells look more like normal cells. These cells are easier to treat and cure.
- A higher number means the cancer has spread more.
The place where cancer starts is called the primary site. Cancer can spread from the primary site to other parts of the body. Even if breast cancer is found in other parts of your body, it’s still considered breast cancer. For instance, if breast cancer has spread to the liver, it’s called metastatic breast cancer, not liver cancer.
Your physician will talk to you about your cancer stage and your treatment plan.
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