The stages of breast cancer range from 0 to IV (0 to 4). Stage depends on the combination of:
For example, a cancer with a T1 tumor (less than 2 cm), no lymph nodes with cancer (N0) and no metastases (M0) is classified as stage I (T1N0M0).
Most often, the higher the stage of the cancer, the poorer the prognosis (chances for survival) will be. The highest stage (stage IV) is any cancer with metastases (M1), no matter the size of the tumor or the lymph node status.
The table below lists the tumor (T), lymph node (N) and metastases (M) classifications.
Stages of Breast Cancer
|
Ductal carcinoma in situ
|
Stage 0
|
TisN0M0
|
Early breast cancer
|
Stage Ia
|
T1N0M0
|
Stage Ib
|
T0N1miM0
|
T1N1miM0
|
Stage IIa
|
T0N1M0
|
T1N1M0
|
T2N0M0
|
Stage IIb
|
T2N1M0
|
T3N0M0
|
Locally advanced breast cancer
|
Stage IIIa
|
T0N2M0
|
T1N2M0
|
T2N2M0
|
T3N1M0
|
T3N2M0
|
Stage IIIb
|
T4N0M0
|
T4N1M0
|
T4N2M0
|
Stage IIIc
|
Any T, N3M0
|
Metastatic breast cancer
|
Stage IV
|
Any T, any N, M1
|
Updated 10/26/12
