Breast cancer is the result of a malignant tumor arising in the cells of the breast tissue. Breast cancer can metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body via the invasion of healthy surrounding tissues or by invading the lymphatic system via the lymph vessels. Staging is the process of determining whether cancerous cells have spread to other parts of the body. Staging is also pivotal in the development of an appropriate treatment plan.
Stage I
Stage I breast cancer refers to non-metastasized cancerous cells that are relatively small in size. Stage I breast cancer can be treated with conservative breast surgery such as a lumpectomy or a partial mastectomy. In a lumpectomy, the lump or cancerous mass is removed, whereas in a partial mastectomy, the cancerous tissue and a surrounding margin of healthy tissue are removed. Radiation therapy is also administered for six to eight weeks post-surgery.
Another treatment of non-metastasized breast cancer is adjuvant systemic therapy. According to BreastCancer.org, hormones such as estrogen and progesterone can cause abnormal breast cell growth. Estrogen receptor positive breast cancer refers to cancerous tissue cells that are stimulated to grow by hormones such as estrogen. Estrogen receptor positive cancer cells are treated with adjuvant systemic therapy such as tamoxifen, a drug that blocks the estrogen receptors in the breast tissues cells, thus slowing the uncontrolled, estrogen-fueled breast cell growth.
Stage II
Stage II cancer refers to breast cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes. The treatment options for Stage II breast cancer is very similar to Stage I breast cancer. Since the size of the cancerous cells are much larger than stage I breast cancer--2 to 5 cm as opposed to 2 cm--non-adjuvant systemic therapy such as hormone therapy is administered prior to a lumpectomy or partial mastectomy to shrink the tumor size. Post-breast conserving surgery, individuals undergo radiation therapy to contain the spread of cancerous cells to the lymph nodes. Another option for women with estrogen receptor positive cancer cells is adjuvant systemic therapy. Hormone therapy, chemotherapy or trastuzumab blocks the estrogen receptors in the breast cells, thus slowing the uncontrolled, estrogen-fueled breast cell growth, notes the American Cancer Society.
Stage III
Stage III breast cancer refers to cancerous cells that have completely metastasized from the breast tissue into the chest wall, skin of the breast, lymph nodes around the collarbone or axillary lymph nodes. If the tumor size is greater than 5 cm, a mastectomy of the tumor followed by radiation therapy is the recommended treatment option. Radiation therapy is administered following a mastectomy to help destroy any remaining cancerous cells. According to Medicineworld.org, if the cancer cells are positive for estrogen receptors, then adjuvant systemic therapy such as hormone therapy is recommended to control the growth and metastasis of those cancerous cells.
