Stage 3 Breast Cancer

Stage 3

Characteristic

-       The tumor is larger than 2 cm and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes.

-       Cancer cells are found in lymph nodes near the breast bone, the chest wall or the skin of the breast.

Sign/Symptoms

-       Swelling of all or part of the breast, breast pain, a lump in the underarm area, nipple pain or nipple turning inward, changes in the appearance of the breast.

Detection

-       Mammograms, self-breast examinations, clinical breast examinations, chest x-ray. For cancers that have spread to the skin of the breast, changes in the breast are usually visible and easily felt (enlargement of the breast, discoloration, pain and tenderness).

Treatment

-       Radical mastectomy with or without radiotherapy

-       Lumpectomy + radiotherapy

-       Chemotherapy commonly recommended

-       Hormonal therapy (for people with hormone-receptor-positive cancer)

-       Targeted therapy (may be used for people with cancers that have certain characteristics).

Stage 2 Breast Cancer

Stage 2

Characteristic

-       The tumor between 2 cm and 5 cm, with or without spread to the axillary lymph nodes (under the arm).

-       Clusters of cancer cells are found in axillary lymph nodes (under the arm)

Signs/Symptoms

-       Swelling of all or part of the breast, breast pain, a lump in the underarm area.

Detection

-       Mammograms, self-breast examinations, clinical breast examinations, chest x-ray.

Treatment options

-       Radical mastectomy with or without radiotherapy.

-       Lumpectomy + radiotherapy

-       Chemotherapy commonly recommended

-       Hormonal therapy (for people with hormone-receptor-positive cancer)

-       Targeted therapy (may be used for people with cancers that have certain characteristics; cancer with too many HER2 protein receptors).