[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/06\/5-stages-breast-cancer\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/06\/5-stages-breast-cancer\/","headline":"What Are the Stages of Breast Cancer?","name":"What Are the Stages of Breast Cancer?","description":"

Doctors use breast cancer staging to determine how advanced breast cancer is and to develop a treatment plan. Learn about the five stages of breast cancer.<\/p>","datePublished":"2025-06-25","dateModified":"2025-11-05","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","name":"UPMC Magee-Womens","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-magee-womens-hospital\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2161227191-e1750448440109.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2161227191-e1750448440109.jpg","height":866,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/06\/5-stages-breast-cancer\/","about":["Breast Cancer","Cancer Care","Health Topics A-Z"],"wordCount":1326,"articleBody":"If you receive a breast cancer diagnosis, you may wonder what treatment will feel like. You may also have questions about life after breast cancer.Doctors use a system called cancer staging to determine how advanced breast cancer is and to develop your treatment plan. But what are the five stages of breast cancer? And how do doctors determine yours?Understanding Breast Cancer StageBreast cancer occurs when cells in the breast change and grow in abnormal ways. Anyone can get breast cancer, but some people are at higher risk for the disease. Women are more likely to get breast cancer than men, especially as they get older.There are different types of breast cancer. Tests help doctors diagnose the type of breast cancer you have and determine how far it has grown or spread (its stage).How Many Stages of Breast Cancer Are There?There are five main breast cancer stages. Your doctor may use 0 followed by Roman numerals I to IV \u2014 or the numbers 0 to 4 to describe breast cancer stage. Experts also use the TNM staging system to further classify breast cancer stages based on the cancer\u2019s behavior.TNM stands for:Tumor \u2014 A tumor is a mass of cells. The T in breast cancer staging indicates tumor size. Doctors assign a T number based on tumor size and whether the cancer has spread into nearby areas such as the skin or chest muscles.Nodes \u2014 Lymph nodes are tiny structures that contain immune cells. Doctors assign an N number to show whether and how extensively cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.Metastasis \u2014 Cancer’s spread to other parts of the body is called metastasis. Doctors assign an M number to indicate whether cancer is in other parts of your body besides your breast.Doctors also assign a grade of 1 to 3 to breast cancers. Grade 1 indicates that the tumor is growing slowly with more normal-appearing cells. Grade 3 means the cancer is growing faster with abnormal-appearing cells.Talk to your doctor about what your specific TNM numbers and grade mean.What Are the 5 Stages of Breast Cancer?Doctors assign a breast cancer stage when you\u2019re diagnosed. Generally, a higher stage number at diagnosis means the cancer is more advanced. Breast cancer stages include:Stage 0Cancer hasn\u2019t spread beyond the breast. Stage 0 cancer is considered noninvasive and is called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The cells are abnormal but haven’t spread beyond the ducts or lobules.Stage ISome stage I breast cancers are invasive. These cancers include:Stage IA \u2014 Small tumors haven’t spread to lymph nodes.Stage IB \u2014 Tumors involve the lymph nodes. But tumors are still small (less than 2 centimeters in diameter) or hormone receptor-positive.Stage IIStage II breast cancers are invasive. Stage II breast cancers include:Stage IIA \u2014 Tumors are 2 centimeters or smaller, and cancer has spread to one to three lymph nodes. This stage also includes tumors between 2 and 5 centimeters with no lymph node involvement.Stage IIB \u2014 Tumors are between 2 and 5 centimeters and have spread to one to three lymph nodes. This stage also includes tumors larger than 5 centimeters with no lymph node involvement.Stage IIIThere are three types of Stage III breast cancer, and all of them are invasive. Stage III breast cancers include:Stage IIIA \u2014 Tumors of any size involving four to nine lymph nodes or tumors larger than 5 centimeters involving one to three lymph nodes.Stage IIIB \u2014 Tumors of any size from cancer that has spread to the chest wall tissue. Breast cancer at this stage may involve up to nine lymph nodes.Stage IIIC \u2014 Tumors of any size that involve 10 or more lymph nodes.Stage IVStage IV breast cancer has spread to other areas of the body, including organs. This is metastatic breast cancer.Note: two patients with the same tumor size and spread may have very different outcomes based on the tumor’s biology. By including receptor status and grade, doctors can more accurately predict prognosis and tailor treatment.What Is the Difference Between Early-Stage and Advanced Breast Cancer?Early-stage breast cancer includes stages 0 through IIIA.Advanced breast cancer refers to stages IIIB through IV, in which cancer is more likely to have spread to the chest wall, skin, or distant organs.Early-stage cancers tend to respond well to surgery and localized treatments. Advanced stages often require systemic therapies such as chemotherapy or targeted drugs.How Do Doctors Determine Breast Cancer Stage?Different breast cancer screening and exams help specialists determine the breast cancer stage. You may have:Imaging testsImaging tests help doctors determine tumor size and location. You may have:Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Breast ultrasound.Diagnostic mammogram.BiopsySome patients also require CT scans, bone scans, or PET scans to determine if a breast cancer has spread to other areas of the body.For a biopsy, doctors use a needle to take a sample of breast tissue. Pathologists then examine the tissue to determine if cancer is present.Biomarker testingSpecialists may test your blood and breast tissue to identify certain proteins and substances that tell them more about the type of breast cancer. They may test your levels of:Hormone receptors, such as estrogen and progesterone. Higher levels of these receptors are present in certain types of breast cancer.Human epidermal growth factor type 2 (HER2\/neu) genes. Higher levels of HER2\/neu protein indicate HER2-positive breast cancer.Other factors may also guide treatment such as gene mutations, genomic testing results, PD-L1 status, and others. Research continues to find ways to personalize breast cancer treatment for better outcomes.How Doctors Use Breast Cancer StagingDoctors use what they learn during breast cancer staging to design a treatment plan for your specific cancer type. Your care team uses all this information to recommend treatments for you. They will talk with you about your treatment goals and answer your questions.Treatment approaches vary at each breast cancer stage. Depending on your stage, you may have:Breast cancer surgery.Chemotherapy.Hormone therapy.Radiation therapy.Targeted therapy.Talk with your doctor about how the breast cancer stage may affect your treatment options. Some patients may successfully treat this breast cancer with surgery alone, others will require radiation therapy and endocrine therapy. Still others benefit from chemotherapy. For those with metastatic, therapies like chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy may help improve quality of life with some patients living for years or even decades with close follow-up.Breast cancer stage can also tell your doctor whether you may benefit from participating in a breast cancer clinical trial.Life After Breast Cancer DiagnosisIt may feel scary when you or someone you love receives a breast cancer diagnosis. But\u00a0understanding what the five stages of breast cancer mean\u00a0gives you the knowledge needed to make informed treatment decisions.With the right support and care, many people live full, meaningful lives during and after treatment. Your doctor will talk with you about what to expect during treatment and about living with breast cancer.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on June 25, 2025, and was last reviewed on August 6, 2025.SourcesAmerican Cancer Society. Lymph Nodes and Cancer. Accessed May 2025. https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/diagnosis-staging\/lymph-nodes-and-cancer.html\/ Cancer.orgAmerican College of Surgeons. Breast Cancer Staging. Accessed May 2025. https:\/\/www.facs.org\/for-patients\/the-day-of-your-surgery\/breast-cancer-surgery\/breast-cancer-types\/breast-cancer-staging\/ FACS.orgCancer Australia. Stages of breast cancer. Accessed May 2025. https:\/\/www.canceraustralia.gov.au\/cancer-types\/breast-cancer\/how-breast-cancer-diagnosed\/stages-breast-cancer\/ CancerAustralia.gov.auCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Breast Cancer Risk Factors. Accessed May 2025. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/breast-cancer\/risk-factors\/index.html\/ CDC.govMedlinePlus. Breast cancer staging. Accessed May 2025. https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/patientinstructions\/000911.htm\/ MedlinePlus.govNational Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. Breast Cancer Facts & Stats. Accessed May 2025. https:\/\/www.nationalbreastcancer.org\/breast-cancer-facts\/ NationalBreastCancer.orgNational Cancer Institute. Breast Cancer Treatment (PDQ\u00ae)\u2014Patient Version. Accessed May 2025. https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/types\/breast\/patient\/breast-treatment-pdq\/ Cancer.govNational Cancer Institute. Cancer Staging. Accessed May 2025. https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/about-cancer\/diagnosis-staging\/staging\/ Cancer.gov"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2025","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"06","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/\/06\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What Are the Stages of Breast Cancer?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2025\/06\/5-stages-breast-cancer\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]