Stage 0 breast cancer
This is also known as carcinoma in situ, and there are two sub-categories of this for breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-invasive disease where abnormal cells are discovered in the breasts’ ducts. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is similar to DCIS, however the abnormal cells are found in the lobules of the breast. Both conditions have the potential to become invasive cancer over time.
Stage I breast cancer
According to the Mayo Clinic, this stage is reached if the tumor is less than two centimeters long, which is about the same length as a peanut. Also at this stage, the cancer hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes or anywhere outside the breasts.
Stage II breast cancer
In this stage, the cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes, but it hasn’t left the breast yet. If the tumor is bigger than five centimeters but hasn’t spread to the axillary lymph nodes, it can be called stage IIA. Stage IIB can be classified if the tumor is less than two centimeters in diameter but cancer is present in up to three axillary lymph nodes.
Stage III breast cancer
Though not yet spread to distant parts of the body, in this stage, the cancer may have spread to areas immediately near the breasts, such as lymph nodes under the arm or next to the collarbone. If that’s the case, a stage IIIA classification can be made if the nodes aren’t attached to each other and the tumor is bigger than five centimeters. If the tumor is smaller than five centimeters, but cancer has spread to the lymph nodes next to the collarbone, it is known as stage IIIB.
Stage IV breast cancer
If this stage of breast cancer is diagnosed, the patient’s prognosis is relatively poor. This is the most advanced stage breast cancer can reach, and it is signified by the cancer spreading to distant tissues and organs of the body, such as the brain or lungs. This stage is often referred to as metastatic breast cancer.
A doctor’s failure to diagnose breast cancer can delay detection from what might have originally been stage 0 cancer to as far as stage IV cancer. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer in Georgia and feel it was discovered late or originally missed by your doctor, please request a copy of our free book, I Have Cancer…Should It Have Been Caught Earlier? or our special report, Breast Cancer: The Risks, the Signs, Diagnosis and Treatment. You can also contact an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice and breast cancer lawyer at the Dover Law Firm at 770-518-1133 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation.