Stages of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is often staged by looking at the tumour size, the presence, extent, or absence of lymph node involvement, and the presence or absence of spread to other organs.

Stage 0

Stage 0 involves ductal carcinoma in situ that is only in the ducts of the breast tissue and has not spread to the surrounding tissue of the breast. It is also called non-invasive or in situ cancer.

Stage 1     

Stage 1 breast cancer is a very small tumour that is confined within the breast tissue. There are no cancer cells outside the breast or in nearby lymph nodes. This stage can be referred to as early breast cancer. 

Stage 2

Stage 2 breast cancer is when there is a small tumour in the breast tissue or the lymph nodes near the breast, or in both places. This stage can also be referred to as early breast cancer.

Stage 3

Stage 3 breast cancer is when the tumour has spread from the breast to the nearby lymph nodes, the breast skin, or the chest wall. This stage is also known as “locally advanced” breast cancer, but this is different from “metastatic” breast cancer. Locally advanced breast cancer has not yet spread to distant organs.               

Stage 4

Stage 4 breast cancer is when the tumour has spread to other parts of the body (such as the bones, lungs, liver, or brain). This stage is also known as “metastatic” or “advanced” breast cancer.