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The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) provides two principal groups for breast cancer staging: anatomic, which is based on extent of cancer as defined by tumor size (T), lymph node status (N), and distant metastasis (M); and prognostic, which includes anatomic TNM plus tumor grade and the status of the ...

A system to describe the amount and spread of cancer in a patient's body, using TNM. T describes the size of the tumor and any spread of cancer into nearby tissue; N describes spread of cancer to nearby lymph nodes; and M describes metastasis (spread of cancer to other parts of the body).

In the newest edition of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual (8th edition, adopted on January 1, 2018), breast cancer staging integrates anatomic staging with tumor grade, biomarker data regarding hormone receptor status, oncogene expression, and gene expression profiling to assign a prognostic stage.

The earliest stage breast cancers are stage 0 (carcinoma in situ). It then ranges from stage I (1) through IV (4). As a rule, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number, such as stage IV, means cancer has spread more.

Stage 3 cancer means the breast cancer has extended to beyond the immediate region of the tumor and may have invaded nearby lymph nodes and muscles, but has not spread to distant organs. Although this stage is considered to be advanced, there are a growing number of effective treatment options.

In stage 3 breast cancer, also called invasive breast cancer, abnormal cells are growing in the breast and other nearby tissues, such as the muscles of the chest and lymph nodes. Tumors are typically larger than those in stage 1 or 2, but the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.

Breast Cancer Action is a resource and support centre for breast cancer patients and survivors. They are the here and now for women, providing programs such as pre-operative & lymphedema workshops, peer support, dragon boat teams, and a variety of fitness programs throughout the city.

Breast Cancer Action (BCAction) is a national grassroots education and advocacy organization. Our mission is to achieve health justice for all women at risk of and living with breast cancer.