Breast Cancer Staging

There is more than one system used to determine how far the cancer has spread but the Tumor-Nodes-Metastases (TNM) staging system is considered to be the most precise. It separately assesses the tumor size (T), whether it has spread to the lymph nodes (N) and any further metastasizing (M). Each letter is followed by a number that further indicates the severity of the cancer.

Traditionally, a less complex system states stages from 0 to IV. The lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. For stage I, II or III cancers, the main considerations are to treat the cancer and to prevent any recurrences. Stage IV breast cancer cannot be cured in most cases and the goal is to improve symptoms and prolong survival.

Many additional factors besides staging can influence the recommended treatment and the likely outcome. The precise cell type and appearance of the cancer, whether the cancer cells respond to hormones, and the presence or absence of genes known to cause breast cancer are all factors to take into consideration.

Next: Treatments and Side Effects

 

Related informational links:

American Cancer Society

American Cancer Society Clinical Trials Matching Service

National Cancer Institute Breast Cancer

CancerNet - A service of the National Cancer Institute

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Net

New York Times - Breast Cancer News

CancerTrack - Tracking cancer online

Mamm Magazine online

Health Central

Breast Cancer Society of Canada