The Diagnosis & Staging of Breast Cancer
Once cancer is diagnosed doctors will stage the disease. This describes how advanced the cancer is, how big it is, and whether or not it has spread to other areas of your body (metastasised). The staging of a cancer diagnosis is important because it can influence which treatments are likely to be successful and is a predictor of survival.
Breast cancer is divided into four stages with stage 1 being the earlier stage of the disease and stage five indicating that the disease has spread to other parts of the body.
Stage 1
The tumour is less than 2cm across and the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.
Stage 2
The tumour is between 2 and 5cm across or the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes but not other parts of the body.
Stage 3
The tumour is between 2 and 5cm and may be attached to areas such as skin. The lymph nodes are affected but not other parts of the body.
Stage 4
The tumour can be any size and the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
The above is just a general overview of the staging of breast cancer. Should you be diagnosed with cancer it is very important that you understand clearly the staging of your disease.
Grading Breast Cancer
Doctors will also take into account the grade of a cancer when deciding which treatments will be most effective. The grade generally refers to what the cells look like and breast cancer is divided into three types:
Grade 1
Low grade cancers tend to grow more slowly
Grade 2
Intermediate grade
Grade 3
High grade cancers can be faster growing and are more likely to come back after they have first been treated; because of this, doctors may suggest further treatment after surgery such as chemotherapy. If you are diagnosed with cancer and are unclear about the stage and grade of your cancer then contact your doctor to discuss this further. Alternatively you can contact us at betterdaysbarnet@yahoo.co.uk.
Breast cancer is divided into four stages with stage 1 being the earlier stage of the disease and stage five indicating that the disease has spread to other parts of the body.
Stage 1
The tumour is less than 2cm across and the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.
Stage 2
The tumour is between 2 and 5cm across or the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes but not other parts of the body.
Stage 3
The tumour is between 2 and 5cm and may be attached to areas such as skin. The lymph nodes are affected but not other parts of the body.
Stage 4
The tumour can be any size and the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
The above is just a general overview of the staging of breast cancer. Should you be diagnosed with cancer it is very important that you understand clearly the staging of your disease.
Grading Breast Cancer
Doctors will also take into account the grade of a cancer when deciding which treatments will be most effective. The grade generally refers to what the cells look like and breast cancer is divided into three types:
Grade 1
Low grade cancers tend to grow more slowly
Grade 2
Intermediate grade
Grade 3
High grade cancers can be faster growing and are more likely to come back after they have first been treated; because of this, doctors may suggest further treatment after surgery such as chemotherapy. If you are diagnosed with cancer and are unclear about the stage and grade of your cancer then contact your doctor to discuss this further. Alternatively you can contact us at betterdaysbarnet@yahoo.co.uk.
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DID YOU KNOW?
An estimated 19,540 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women in 2009.
The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10% lower in African American women than white women.
More Facts.....
An estimated 19,540 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women in 2009.
The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10% lower in African American women than white women.
More Facts.....
