Today I will write in simple terms what the five main stages of breast cancer are as defined by the National Breast Cancer Foundation. (Stages II and III are divided into sub catagories of A & B depending on what is found).
One goal I have for this blog is to take hoytie-toytie scientific language and put it in simple terms for the average person to easily read and understand.
The following is a simplified list, and I should add, that among the oncology world you will find doctors who may interpret your findings slightly different and therefore may stage your cancer slightly differently from an other's interpretation. It is not always clear cut, especially if you fall right at one of the cut off points. I have included survival rates as it is one of the first questions I had. I also want you to know that a diagnosis of breast cancer, even in late stage, is not a death sentance. There are pleanty of things that you can do to help yourself. This blog is about survival and how to "beat back the beast."
Stage 0: Carcinoma In Situ, two types: Ductal and Lobular
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ is very early cancer, but if left untreated it can spread.
Lobular carcinoma In Situ is not yet cancer but indicates an increased risk of developing cancer
Survival is almost 100% for In Situ Carcinomas.
Stage I: Early cancer that is less than two centimeters in size and has not spread to lymph nodes or surrounding tissues. Survival rate is 98%.
Stage II: IIa means that the cancer is still less than two centimeters and has spread to three or less lymph nodes under the arm or means that the cancer has grown past two centimeters (but is still less than five) and has not spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.
IIb means that the cancer is between two and five centimeters and has spread to lymph nodes or the cancer is larger than five centimeters and has not spread to the lymph nodes.
Survival rate for II a & b is 88%.
Stage III: IIIa means the cancer is between two and five centimeters and has spread to at up to nine lymph nodes. Survival rate for IIIa is 56%.
IIIb means cancer has spread to other tissues near the breast such as skin, ribs, muscles or lymph nodes beyond the arm pit area. Survival rate for IIIb is 49%
Stage IV: This means that cancer has spread to other organs such as liver, lungs, bones or lymph nodes above the collar bone. Survival rate for IV is 16 %.
Tomorrow's topic: Will a mastectomey get rid of Breast Cancer?
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