Understanding Breast Cancer Stages
The severity of breast cancer can be categorized into 5 stages from 0 to 4 dependent on the results of mastectomy and lumpectomy and autopsy from lymph glands of armpits. Based on these results an estimation of survival would be possible. Of course because of medical progresses the survival rates are increasing amongst the patients. The size of the tumors The stage of the breast cancer can be determined according to the size of the tumor and its spread to other organs. Higher stages indicate the more sever condition and bigger tumor size. Stage 1 and 2 The average diameter of tumors is less than 2 centimeters (almost the size of a peanut). Stage 3 and 4 The average diameter of tumors might be up to 5 centimeters (the size of a small lemon). There also might be some smaller tumors spreading to the surrounding areas of breast. Stage 1 in breast cancer In this stage: The tumor size is not more than 2 centimeters. The cancer has not been spread to lymphatic glands. The cancer has not been spread to the surrounding areas of breast. The survival chance for the next 5 years is up to 85-90 percent. Stage 2 in breast cancer Tumors in stage 2 are bigger than the stage 1 but the cancer still has not been spread to other organs. These symptoms must be checked out: The size of the tumor can be around 2 to 5 centimeters and the lymph nodules of armpits might get involved. The size of the tumor can be more than 5 centimeters but the lymph nodules of armpits might not get involved yet. The size of the tumor might be less than 2 centimeters and up to 3 lymph nodules of armpits have got involved. There is no sign of any tumors but 3 lymph nodules of armpits have got involved. The survival chance for the next 5 years is around 70 percent for patients in stage 2. Stage 3 in breast cancer The stage 3 is also known as the advanced localized cancer. In this stage the cancer can be spread to lymph nodules of armpits and even collarbone. The tumor size can be bigger than 5 centimeters but the cancerous cells might still be apart from each others. The tumor size can be less than 5 centimeters but the cancerous cells might be joined together. The tumor size can be less than 5 centimeters but the cancer has get the collarbone involved. Inflammatory breast cancer In which cancer cells block lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This type of breast cancer is called “inflammatory” because the breast often looks swollen and red, or inflamed. This type of breast cancer usually is categorized as stage 3. The survival chance for the next 5 years is around 50 to 60 percent for patients in stage 3. Stage 4 in breast cancer This is the most sever stage of breast cancer. The cancerous cells are spread to all parts of the body including: bones, lymph glands and surrounding tissues of the breasts. Some treatments can be applied to reduce the severity of pain but unfortunately there no absolte treatment. Reducing the severity of the pain is the main priority in this stage. The survival chance for the next 5 years is around 20 percent for patients in stage 4. References: sportmedicine.ir |