Stages of Breast Cancer

Different tests and surgical removal of the breast cancer and the regional lymph nodes help provide valuable information that is used in determination of the tumor size and if it has spread to the nearby regional lymph glands and other organs in the body.

Stage 0 - A breast cancer tumor is confined to the ducts or lobules of a breast and has not spread to the nearby surrounding breast tissues.  

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 1 - A tumor measures 2 centimeters or less, and nearby lymph nodes have no cancer cells. 

Stage 2 – A tumor that is less than 5 centimeters (usually larger than 2 centimeters) that may have up to three lymph nodes with cancer spread to them.

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 3 - A tumor that is usually larger than 5 cm (it can be much smaller though) and usually has lymph node involvement – usually more than three lymph nodes positive. One can have a Stage 3 breast cancer that is lymph node negative but it will usually be a large tumor greater than 5 cm.

Stage 4 - A tumor may be any size but the breast cancer has spread to distant areas of the body including the lungs, bones, brain or liver.