Breast cancer is a complex disease. There is no right treatment for all patients. Your breast cancer will be placed into one of 5 stages. Click here for a chart that explains each stage for you. How your cancer is staged and your treatment choices will depend on:

• How small or large your tumor is and where it is found in your breast.

• If cancer is found in the lymph nodes in you armpit.

• If cancer is found in the other parts of your body.

The following words and information also can help you understand how your cancer is "staged."

• Benign means that your lump or other problem was NOT cancer.

• Malignant means that your tissue DOES contain cancer cells.

• In situ or noninvasive cancer is a very early cancer or a precancer that has NOT SPREAD beyond the breast, to the lymph nodes in the armpit, or to other parts of the body. This type of cell is still totally contained in the milk ducts or lobules of the breast.

• Invasive cancer HAS SPREAD to surrounding tissue in the breast and MAY HAVE SPREAD to the lymph nodes in the armpit or to other parts of the body. All breast cancers, except in situ cancer, are invasive.

• Metastasized cancer HAS SPREAD to other parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver, or brain.

To be sure that you have the right diagnosis, have your slides read by an experienced pathologist. If you still have questions, then have your biopsy slides reread. You can have them reread at a university hospital, cancer center, or a second opinion service. This step is important because of the difficulty today in making an accurate diagnosis. Treatment choices vary from close follow-up, to removing only the affected tissue, to removing both breasts. If your lump does contain cancer cells, you will need a team of medical experts. No one doctor is able to provide all the services you may need. Click here for Treatment Team.

Need help understanding the pathology report? Download a list of definitions here. (This form is in PDF format. You must have Acrobat Reader to view and print from your browser.)

Stage O

• Very early breast cancer or preinvasive cancer. This type of cancer has NOT spread within or outside of your breast (also called in situ or noninvasive cancer).

Stage l

• Tumor smaller than 2cm. (1 inch*). No cancer is found in the lymph nodes in the armpit, or outside the breast.

Stage ll

• Tumor smaller than 2cm. (1 inch). Cancer is found in the lymph nodes in the armpit, OR

• Tumor between 2 and 5 cm. (1 and 2 inches). Cancer may or may not be found in the lymph nodes in the armpit, OR

• Tumor larger than 5cm. (2 inches). Cancer is not found in the lymph nodes in the armpit.

Stage lll

• Tumor smaller than 5cm. (2 inches) with cancer also in the lymph nodes that are stuck together, OR

• Tumor larger than 5cm. (2 inches), OR cancer is attached to other parts of the breast area including the chest wall, ribs, and muscles, OR

• Inflammatory breast cancer. In this rare type of cancer, the skin of the breast is red and swollen.

Stage lV

• Tumor has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver, or brain. *Cm. MEANS CENTIMETERS. ONE INCH EQUALS 2.5 CENTIMETERS. INCHES LISTED ABOVE ARE NOT EXACT MEASUREMENTS.

In Situ "Cancers"

Because of the success of x-ray mammography, tiny growths are being discovered that raise concerns about a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. These growths are called carcinoma in situ or noninvasive cancer. Today 15% to 20% of breast "cancers" fall into this category. Two types exist:

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is noninvasive, which means it is limited to the milk ducts of the breast. It has NOT spread beyond the breast, to the lymph nodes in the armpit, or to other parts of the body. However, there are several types of DCIS. If it is not removed, some types may in time change and develop into an invasive cancer. Some may NEVER progress to an invasive cancer.

• Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is a noninvasive growth limited to the milk lobules of the breast. It is NOT cancer, only warning sign of increased risk of developing cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Women with LCIS have about a 1% risk of developing invasive breast cancer equally in either breast per year. At 20 years, this risk is about 18%.

Adapted from "A Woman's Guide To Breast Cancer Diagnosis And Treatment" published by the California Department of Health Services and "The Breast Buddy Volunteer Training Curriculum", published by WIN Against Breast Cancer.

Last Updated: 06/01/2004

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