stage 1 – the cancer is small and hasn't spread anywhere else. stage 2 – the cancer has grown, but hasn't spread. stage 3 – the cancer is larger and may have spread to the surrounding tissues and/or the lymph nodes (or "glands", part of the immune system)
To learn the stage of your disease, your doctor may order x-rays, lab tests, and other tests or procedures. A cancer is always referred to by the stage it was given at diagnosis, even if it gets worse or spreads. New information about how a cancer has changed over time is added to the original stage.
Stage 1 is highly treatable, however, it does require treatment, typically surgery and often radiation, or a combination of the two. Additionally, you may consider hormone therapy, depending on the type of cancer cells found and your additional risk factors.
Stage 1 breast cancer is an early stage of invasive breast cancer, in which the tumor measures up to 2 cm and no lymph nodes are involved. The cancer cells have spread beyond the original location and into the surrounding breast tissue.
stage 1 – the cancer is small and hasn't spread anywhere else. stage 2 – the cancer has grown, but hasn't spread. stage 3 – the cancer is larger and may have spread to the surrounding tissues and/or the lymph nodes (or "glands", part of the immune system)
In fact, the majority of stage 0 breast cancers are found by accident, such as during a routine mammogram or screening. “Stage 0 breast cancer is not a reason to hit the panic button, but it is a diagnosis that is serious enough to warrant concern,” says Eugene Ahn, MD, Medical Oncologist at City of Hope Chicago.
Stage 1A means that the cancer is 2 centimetres (cm) or smaller and has not spread outside the breast.
Stage 2 cancer is a bit more serious than stage 1 cancer, but with early treatment, patients can be completely cured of the disease. The recurrence rate is also low if treated immediately. However, cancer is a highly progressive disease that spreads at an increased rate.
T1a tumors are over 1 mm and no more than 5 mm in diameter. T1b tumors are over 5 mm and no more than 10 mm in diameter. T1c tumors are greater than 10 millimeters and no more than 20 millimeters. The tumor is larger than 20 millimeters (2 centimeters) and no more than 50 millimeters (5 centimeters).
Stage I: The cancer is localized to a small area and hasn't spread to lymph nodes or other tissues. Stage II: The cancer has grown, but it hasn't spread. Stage III: The cancer has grown larger and has possibly spread to lymph nodes or other tissues. Stage IV: The cancer has spread to other organs or areas of your body.
Symptoms of Metastatic Cancer
pain and fractures, when cancer has spread to the bone. headache, seizures, or dizziness, when cancer has spread to the brain. shortness of breath, when cancer has spread to the lung. jaundice or swelling in the belly, when cancer has spread to the liver.
Stage IA: The tumor is up to 2 centimeters (cm). It has not spread to the lymph nodes (T1, N0, M0).
Primary breast tumors vary in shape and size. The smallest lesion that can be felt by hand is typically 1.5 to 2 centimeters (about 1/2 to 3/4 inch) in diameter. Sometimes tumors that are 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) — or even larger — can be found in the breast.
Scientists have found that for most breast and bowel cancers, the tumours begin to grow around ten years before they're detected. And for prostate cancer, tumours can be many decades old. “They've estimated that one tumour was 40 years old. Sometimes the growth can be really slow,” says Graham.
There are effective treatments for many stage 3 cancers. Some stage 3 cancers can be successfully treated, but they are more likely to return after going away.
If a tumor returns after surgery, it is called a recurrence. Most cancers arise from a single tumor at a single site in the body. This tumor is called a primary tumor. After surgery, a tumor can return at the same site (a local recurrence) or a new tumor can occur at a different site (metastasis).
Tumor sizes are often measured in centimeters (cm) or inches. Common food items that can be used to show tumor size in cm include: a pea (1 cm), a peanut (2 cm), a grape (3 cm), a walnut (4 cm), a lime (5 cm or 2 inches), an egg (6 cm), a peach (7 cm), and a grapefruit (10 cm or 4 inches).
Doctors assign the stage of the cancer by combining the T, N, and M classifications (see above). Stage I: The tumor is 7 cm or smaller and is only located in the kidney. It has not spread to the lymph nodes or distant organs (T1, N0, M0). Stage II: The tumor is larger than 7 cm and is only located in the kidney.
Stage 4 cancer usually can't be cured. In addition, because it's usually spread throughout the body by the time it's diagnosed, it is unlikely the cancer can be completely removed. The goal of treatment is to prolong survival and improve your quality of life.
Is stage 4 cancer always terminal? Stage 4 cancer is not always terminal. It is usually advanced and requires more aggressive treatment. Terminal cancer refers to cancer that is not curable and eventually results in death.
Chemotherapy can be used at any stage of cancer, from IA/IB to IV. The nature of chemo varies according to the type of cancer the patient has. Doctors may recommend that breast cancer patients receive chemotherapy if they find early-stage tumors in the lymph nodes.
In stage 2 breast cancer, the tumor measures between 2 cm and 5 cm, or the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm on the same side as the breast cancer.