Stages of breast cancer are:

Stage 0

Presence of abnormal cells in the lining of a lobule (lobular carcinoma in situ - LCIS) or a duct (ductal carcinoma in situ - DCIS). The cancer is not invasive (has not spread to other tissues or organs), but if left untreated, they may become invasive.

Stage I

Tumor is less than 2 centimeters across, and has not spread beyond the breast.

Stage II

Tumor is between 2 centimeters and 5 centimeters across, or cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm on the same as the breast cancer. Affected lymph nodes have not yet stuck to one another or affected surrounding tissues.

Stage IIIA

Tumor is larger than 5 centimeters across, or there is significant involvement of lymph nodes.

Stage IIIB

Describes breast cancer where the tumor has spread to the breast skin, chest wall, or internal mammary lymph nodes, regardless of the tumor size.

Stage IV

Tumor has spread into other organs.

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