Breast cancer is staged based on the size of the tumor, whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. The stages of breast cancer are: - Stage 0: Non-invasive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), where abnormal cells are confined to the breast ducts.Read more
Breast cancer is staged based on the size of the tumor, whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. The stages of breast cancer are:
– Stage 0: Non-invasive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), where abnormal cells are confined to the breast ducts.
– Stage I: Invasive breast cancer that is small (less than 2 cm) and has not spread to the lymph nodes.
– Stage II: Invasive breast cancer that is either larger than 2 cm or has spread to the nearby lymph nodes.
– Stage III: Invasive breast cancer that is either very large, has spread to many lymph nodes, or has invaded the chest wall or skin.
– Stage IV: Invasive breast cancer that has spread to distant organs, such as the lungs, liver, bones, or brain. This is also called metastatic breast cancer.
To diagnose breast cancer, a healthcare provider may perform several tests, including: - A mammogram (breast x-ray) - An ultrasound scan (using sound waves to produce an image) - A core biopsy (using a hollow needle to take a sample of breast tissue to be looked at under a microscope) - A fine needlRead more
To diagnose breast cancer, a healthcare provider may perform several tests, including:
– A mammogram (breast x-ray)
– An ultrasound scan (using sound waves to produce an image)
– A core biopsy (using a hollow needle to take a sample of breast tissue to be looked at under a microscope)
– A fine needle aspiration (FNA) (using a fine needle and syringe to take a sample of cells to be looked at under a microscope)
If breast cancer is diagnosed, other tests may be done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the breast or to other parts of the body. This process is called staging. The stage of breast cancer helps determine the best treatment options.
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