Until breast cancer can be prevented, the greatest hope for its control is early detection, diagnosis and treatment.  Breast cancer can be divided into 4 stages depending on the extent of disease.

Stage 1
The cancer is 2 cm or less and confined to the breast.

Stage 2
The cancer measures between 2-5 cm, or the lymph nodes (lymph glands in the armpit area) are involved, or both.

Stage 3
The cancer is larger than 5 cm in size, or has involved the skin or underlying muscle, lymph nodes are usually affected, but there has been no further spread.

Stage 4
The cancer has spread to distant sites such as the lymph nodes in the neck, lungs, liver or bones.

Updated:: 18/03/2019 []