STAGING
The extend of the breast cancer can be classified by many different systems the most common cancer staging systems used are the I-IV system and TNM system.
I-IV SYSTEM
In this system four categories which include broad characteristics to describe the size and the extend of the tumour are used as a classification method.
Stage I
The tumour is smaller than 2 cm in diameter and there is no involvement of the axillary lymph node or metastases. The average survival in a 5 year span for women with this stage of cancer is 80-95%.
Stage II
The tumour is 2-5 cm in diameter. The lymph nodes may be involved but the remain movable. Finally the is no skin or chest wall involvement. The average survival in a 5 year span for women with this stage of cancer is 50-70%.
In those two stages the tumour is characterized as in situ which means that the cancer is confined in the milk glands and/or the ducts.
Stage III
The tumour is advanced and local, which means that the cancer is confined at the region of the breast but is fixed to the skin or chest wall. Lymph nodes may be involved and in this case they are attached to the tissues surrounding the axilla. The average survival in a 5 year span for women with this stage of cancer is 30-60%.
Stage IV
The cancer is spread to the surrounding tissues of the breast and the axilla and/or distant organs and lymph nodes that lie above the collarbone are also involved. The average survival in a 5 year span for women with this stage of cancer is 5-20%.
TNM SYSTEM
This system relies on three characteristics of the cancer to define the stage. Those are the extend of the cancer (T), the lymph node involvement (N) and the metastatic status of the cancer.
Extend of the tumour (T)
T(0): In this stage there is no tumour detected in the breast
Tis: In this stage the cancer is characterized as in situ (confined in the breast tissues)
T(1): the cancer is less than 2cm in diameter and is characterised as invasive (metastases present)
T(2): the cancer is bigger than 2cm but smaller than 5 cm in diameter and is characterised as invasive
T(3): the cancer is larger than 5cm in diameter but there is no involvement of the skin or chest wall
T(4a): The tumour is fixed to the chest wall
T(4b): The tumour is invading the skin of the breast
T(4c): The tumour is invading the chest wall and the skin
T(4d): Inflammatory cancer, which is a type of a very aggressive and rapidly spreading, invasive breast cancer
Node involvement (N)
N(0): No involvement of the lymph nodes
N(1): The lymph nodes of the axilla are involved but they remain movable
N(2): The lymph nodes of the axilla are involved and they are fixed to the surrounding tissues of the axilla
N(3): Nodes located above the collarbone are involved
Metastatic status of the cancer (M)
M(0): No evidence of metastases
M(1): Metastases are detected and the clinical image of the patient includes lymph node involvement above the collarbone
The extend of the breast cancer can be classified by many different systems the most common cancer staging systems used are the I-IV system and TNM system.
I-IV SYSTEM
In this system four categories which include broad characteristics to describe the size and the extend of the tumour are used as a classification method.
Stage I
The tumour is smaller than 2 cm in diameter and there is no involvement of the axillary lymph node or metastases. The average survival in a 5 year span for women with this stage of cancer is 80-95%.
Stage II
The tumour is 2-5 cm in diameter. The lymph nodes may be involved but the remain movable. Finally the is no skin or chest wall involvement. The average survival in a 5 year span for women with this stage of cancer is 50-70%.
In those two stages the tumour is characterized as in situ which means that the cancer is confined in the milk glands and/or the ducts.
Stage III
The tumour is advanced and local, which means that the cancer is confined at the region of the breast but is fixed to the skin or chest wall. Lymph nodes may be involved and in this case they are attached to the tissues surrounding the axilla. The average survival in a 5 year span for women with this stage of cancer is 30-60%.
Stage IV
The cancer is spread to the surrounding tissues of the breast and the axilla and/or distant organs and lymph nodes that lie above the collarbone are also involved. The average survival in a 5 year span for women with this stage of cancer is 5-20%.
TNM SYSTEM
This system relies on three characteristics of the cancer to define the stage. Those are the extend of the cancer (T), the lymph node involvement (N) and the metastatic status of the cancer.
Extend of the tumour (T)
T(0): In this stage there is no tumour detected in the breast
Tis: In this stage the cancer is characterized as in situ (confined in the breast tissues)
T(1): the cancer is less than 2cm in diameter and is characterised as invasive (metastases present)
T(2): the cancer is bigger than 2cm but smaller than 5 cm in diameter and is characterised as invasive
T(3): the cancer is larger than 5cm in diameter but there is no involvement of the skin or chest wall
T(4a): The tumour is fixed to the chest wall
T(4b): The tumour is invading the skin of the breast
T(4c): The tumour is invading the chest wall and the skin
T(4d): Inflammatory cancer, which is a type of a very aggressive and rapidly spreading, invasive breast cancer
Node involvement (N)
N(0): No involvement of the lymph nodes
N(1): The lymph nodes of the axilla are involved but they remain movable
N(2): The lymph nodes of the axilla are involved and they are fixed to the surrounding tissues of the axilla
N(3): Nodes located above the collarbone are involved
Metastatic status of the cancer (M)
M(0): No evidence of metastases
M(1): Metastases are detected and the clinical image of the patient includes lymph node involvement above the collarbone