When talking about breast cancer, it is very important for women to know the different stages of breast cancer in order for them to get the right treatments. Breast cancer has five stages named as the following.

The early stages of breast cancer

There are three stages under this category. The first stage is Stage 0. This is the stage where the cancer cells start to develop along the cell lining of the of the milk ducts on the breasts and is known as DCIS. Since this is just the development of the cancer cells, it may not be felt through physical examination but rather, cell samples should be brought to the laboratory to determine if it is a carcinoma or not.

The next stage is Stage 1. The cancer cells on this stage are starting to invade the outer part of the milk ducts. If this stage is determined, the doctor should find out if these infiltrating cells have already spread to the body's lymph nodes. The spread of the cancer cells should not be more than 2 cm and have not invaded the lymph nodes. Surgery would be able to remove tissues that have the DCIS plus the invading cancerous cells. There would be times that the patient may need several surgeries in order to remove the cancer cells and then add it all up in order to come up with the final dimension.

Stage 2 is the next stage of breast cancer. This stage still has two other sub categories. Stage 2A means that the cancerous cells have already have a dimension of less than or equal to 2 cm but have already spread to the axillary lymph nodes or also called positive nodes. These are the lymph nodes that you can find in the armpits. It can also have a dimension of 5 cm but have not yet outspread to the lymph nodes or also called negative nodes. Stage 2B has cancer cells with a dimension ranging from 2 cm up to 5 centimeters and invading the lymph nodes. The cancer cells could also be bigger but has not yet spread on the lymph nodes.

The advanced stage of cancer

Stage 3 of breast cancer is under this category. The cancer cells on this stage have already spread on the lymph nodes and have a dimension of more than 5 cm. The tumor will also eventually spread on the lymph nodes located under the clavicle or collar bone. And regardless of the size, you will consider the breast cancer to be on Stage 3 once it can already be felt on the breasts or the ribs.

The late stage of breast cancer

Stage 4 is the late stage of breast cancer. On this stage, the cancer cells are already told to be metastatic or can be found on other parts of the body far from the breasts. On this stage, the cancer will be considered to be Stage 4 if there are others found on other parts of the body regardless of the size.

By knowing the stages of breast cancer, you will be able to be given treatment options that you need in order to stop this disease from spreading.