Intraductal breast cancer is evaluated by physicians in stages. This consists of determining how large a tumor is and how far it has spread throughout your body. Five stages, 0 through IV, have been delineated along with several sub-stages. Every case of breast cancer is different, as intraductal breast cancer is a very complicated disease.
Stage 0
In Stage 0, abnormal cells develop in the ducts of the breasts. These cells may or may not be cancerous. It is often considered a pre-cancerous stage.
Stage I
Stage I typically involves a small tumor. Cancer cells have not spread beyond the breast into any other area of the body.
Stage II
Stage II tumors are still located in the breast area, but in some cases, tumor growth appears in the lymph nodes.
Stage III
Stage III cancer is more advanced, but still contained within the breast area and lymph nodes.
Stage IV
Stage IV is advanced cancer that has spread to other areas of the body, which may include the liver, lungs, bones and/or brain.
Sub-Stages
Stages II and III also have sub-stages (A, B and C) in which the cancerous tumors are measured in centimeters. This, depending on size and location, pre-determines which sub-stage category the intraductal breast cancer falls into.
Tags: Stage Stage, breast cancer, breast area, intraductal breast, lymph nodes