| Breast cancer can be frightening, but knowledge is | | | | than 2 cm across and is contained within the breast. |
| power. If you've been vigilant in your personal breast | | | | Stage II - Early stage where the tumor is either: a. |
| exams and mammograms there may come a time | | | | Less than 2 cm. across and in both the breast and |
| when a lump or suspicious area is found. The first | | | | the lymph nodes under the arm b. between 2 and 5 |
| thing that will probably happen is you'll get another | | | | cm. and may be in breast or breast and lymph nodes |
| mammogram. This time it's called a diagnostic | | | | under the arm c. More than 5 cm. and only in the |
| mammogram and it will concentrate on the suspicious | | | | breast |
| area. You may also get an ultrasound, with is painless | | | | Stage III - Advanced breast cancer where: a. The |
| and can often tell the difference quickly between | | | | tumor is less than five cm. across, in both breast and |
| benign and malignant growths. | | | | lymph nodes under the arm b. The cancer is |
| Depending on the results of the previous tests, the | | | | extensive in the lymph nodes under the arm. c. The |
| doctors are likely to recommend a biopsy next. A | | | | cancer is in the lymph nodes or other tissues located |
| biopsy takes a small piece of the lump for | | | | near the breastbone. During stage III your doctor will |
| examination under a microscope. It is the best way | | | | be checking to find signs of metastatic disease. |
| to make sure if breast cancer is present. The biopsy | | | | When cancer has "metastasized,' it has spread from |
| can take many forms from a surgical procedure to a | | | | the breast/lymph node areas into other distant |
| fine needle, which isn't much worse than getting a | | | | organs of the body. These tests will take the form |
| shot. It depends on the type and location of the | | | | of chest x-rays and CT and bone scans. |
| mass. Your doctor will decide which type of biopsy is | | | | Stage IV - Metastatic breast cancer, where the |
| best in your case. | | | | cancer has spread to other organs. |
| Once the biopsy sample is retrieved, a pathologist will | | | | Almost all breast cancer victims will have some type |
| study and characterize it. If it is found to be | | | | of surgery to remove as much of the cancerous |
| cancerous, it is further classified in various ways to | | | | growth as possible. No matter how successful, most |
| identify its size and strength. The mass will be tested | | | | will probably undergo a regimen of chemotherapy as |
| for the presence of special estrogen and | | | | well. This kills off any microscopic scraps of the |
| progesterone receptors. If present, the cancer can | | | | disease that may remain to grow into full-fledged |
| be treated with hormone therapy. Another receptor | | | | cancer again. Other therapies such as radiotherapy |
| called the HER-2/neu is also sought. Other therapies | | | | (radiation therapy), hormonal therapy, or biologic |
| are directed and cancers containing this receptor. | | | | therapy may be proscribed. |
| At this point the patient is "staged". The stages of | | | | Once treated, breast cancer patients need to be |
| breast cancer are complex, but here is a simplified | | | | monitored for recurrence. At first this means every |
| description: | | | | 3-4 months. These become less and less frequent, |
| Stage 0 - Abnormal cells are found in the lining of a | | | | but annual mammograms are even more important |
| gland within the breast. This is indicative of a future | | | | for former breast cancer patients than for the |
| cancer, but not representative of present cancer. | | | | normal population. |
| Stage I - The earliest stage where the tumor is less | | | | |