Stages

Stages of breast cancer

Staging describes how far a cancer has grown and spread. It guides treatment and gives doctors and patients a common language.

0–IVthe international staging scale used worldwide6topics in this section

The stages at a glance

The stage describes how far the cancer has grown and spread. The general path runs from stage 0 to stage IV — your team will explain what each one means for you.

0

Stage 0 — carcinoma in situ

Stage 0 means abnormal cells are present but have not yet spread beyond where they started. It is the earliest possible finding and is highly treatable.

1

Stage 1 breast cancer

Stage 1 is a small invasive cancer, confined to the breast or with minimal presence in a lymph node. It is early cancer — and highly treatable.

2

Stage 2 breast cancer

Stage 2 cancers are larger or have reached more lymph nodes, but have not spread to distant organs. They remain highly treatable.

3

Stage 3 breast cancer

Stage 3 is locally advanced: the cancer has grown significantly or reached many lymph nodes — but it has not spread to distant organs.

4

Stage 4 — metastatic breast cancer

Stage 4 means the cancer has spread to distant organs such as the bones, liver or lungs. It is not curable in the classic sense — but it is very often controllable for years.

Section overview

Understanding breast cancer stages

The stage is a snapshot of a cancer at diagnosis. It combines three key measures — where the tumour is, what it touches and how far it has travelled.

Stage 0 — carcinoma in situ

Stage 0 means abnormal cells are present but have not yet spread beyond where they started. It is the earliest possible finding and is highly treatable.

Stage 1 breast cancer

Stage 1 is a small invasive cancer, confined to the breast or with minimal presence in a lymph node. It is early cancer — and highly treatable.

Stage 2 breast cancer

Stage 2 cancers are larger or have reached more lymph nodes, but have not spread to distant organs. They remain highly treatable.

Stage 3 breast cancer

Stage 3 is locally advanced: the cancer has grown significantly or reached many lymph nodes — but it has not spread to distant organs.

Stage 4 — metastatic breast cancer

Stage 4 means the cancer has spread to distant organs such as the bones, liver or lungs. It is not curable in the classic sense — but it is very often controllable for years.

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