How does staging relate to types of breast cancer?
Besides the cancer stage, doctors also look at the tumor grade and subtype.
Tumors are graded on a scale of 1 to 3 based on how atypical the cells appear compared to the natural cells. The higher the grade, the more aggressive the cancer, meaning that it tends to grow quickly.
The subtype is important because treatment and outlook will vary depending on which subtype of breast cancer you have. Subtypes include:
HER2-positive
ER-Positive
triple-negative
The TNM system for staging breast cancer
In 2018, the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) added the letters T, N, and M for anatomic breast cancer staging. This adds more information to a breast cancer diagnosis. Here’s what they mean:
T (tumor): The tumor grade shows a higher number for a larger size or density.
N (nodes): Nodes refer to lymph nodes and use the numerals 0–3 to explain how many lymph nodes are involved in the cancer.
M (metastasis): This refers to how the cancer has spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes.
The AJCC also added clarifications in staging for ER, PR, and HER2 expression and also genetic information.
This means someone diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer (or regional) can receive more information from their breast cancer staging than ever before.
No matter the stage, the best source of information about your individual outlook is your own oncology team.
Make sure you understand your breast cancer stage and subtype so that you can better understand treatment options and your outlook.
Getting the right treatment and the support you need can help you navigate the challenges of receiving a diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer.
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