Staging & Grading
When breast cancer is diagnosed, your doctors will give it a stage. The stage describes the size of the cancer and how far it has spread, and is used to predict the outlook.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is sometimes described as stage 0. Other stages of breast cancer describe invasive breast cancer and include:
Stage 1
The tumour measures less than 2cm and the lymph nodes in the armpit are not affected. There are no signs that the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body.
Stage 2
The tumour measures 2 to 5cm, the lymph nodes in the armpit are affected, or both. There are no signs that the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body.
Stage 3
The tumour measures 2 to 5cm and may be attached to structures in the breast, such as skin or surrounding tissues, and the lymph nodes in the armpit are affected. There are no signs that the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body.
Stage 4
The tumour is of any size and the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastasis)
This is a simplified guide. Each stage is divided into further categories: A, B and C.
If you're not sure what stage you have, talk to your doctor.
This is a simplified guide. Each stage is divided into further categories: A, B and C.
If you're not sure what stage you have, talk to your doctor.
TNM staging system
The TNM staging system may also be used to describe breast cancer, as it can provide accurate information about the diagnosis:
- T – the size of the tumour
- N – whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
- M – whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body
Grades of breast cancer
The grade describes the appearance of the cancer cells.
- low grade (G1) – the cells, although abnormal, appear to be growing slowly
- medium grade (G2) – the cells look more abnormal than low-grade cells
- high grade (G3) – the cells look even more abnormal and are more likely to grow quickly