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| The term "early breast cancer" refers
to stages of breast cancer labeled 0, I,II, III & IV |
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Stage 0, |
| Cancer
cells are present in either the lining of a breast
lobule or a duct, but they have not spread to surrounding
fatty tissue. This stage is also called duct al
carcinoma in situ or DCIS. |
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Stage I, |
| Cancer
has spread from the lobules or ducts to the nearby
tissue in the breast. At this stage and beyond,
breast cancer is considered to be invasive. The
tumor is 2 cm or less in diameter (approximately
1 inches or less); the lymph nodes are not involved. |
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Stage II, |
Cancer
has spread from the lobules or ducts to nearby
tissue in the breast. In this stage
the tumor can range from 2cm to greater than cm
in diameter (approximately 1·2 inches);
sometimes the lymph nodes may be involved. A recurrence
is a return of breast cancer. After surgery for
early breast cancer, adjuvant, or additional, therapy
may be given to reduce the chance of a recurrence.
The term "advanced stages of breast cancer" refers
to stages of breast cancer labeled III and IV. |
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Stage III, |
| Known
as locally advanced cancer; tumor may be larger
than 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter, and the cancer
may or may not have spread to lymph nodes or other
tissues near the breast. |
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Stage IV, |
| Known
as meta static; cancer has spread from breast and
lymph nodes under the arm to other parts of the
body, such as bone, liver, lung, or brain. |
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