After diagnosis, the stage of the breast cancer is determined. Stage is the most important factor for prognosis and helps plan your treatment. The earlier the stage, the better the prognosis.
Although there are a few ways to classify stage, the most widely used is the TNM classification (standing for tumor, nodes, metastases). TNM takes into account the size of the tumor (T), the number and location lymph nodes (N) with cancer and whether or not the cancer has spread to other areas of the body (metastasis) (M).
Standard breast cancer staging is based on a pathologist’s study of the lymph nodes and tumor tissue removed during surgery (known as pathologic staging). There are two types of breast cancer staging. Results from a health care provider’s physical exam and tests like mammography (known as clinical staging) may add to these findings, when needed.
Updated 10/26/09
