Breast Cancer Stages And Survival Rate

Breast cancer is an extremely grave disease. Cancer, otherwise treated, can cause pain as well as death. Cancer has many stages. Breast cancer particularly has Stage 3 as the advance stage of the disease with 50% possibility of survival. But as the cancer spreads and progresses, the chance of survival decreases. It should be noted, however, there are many cancer survivors.

Without diagnosis of a medical professional, breast cancer could be detected by a breast examination which can be performed by anyone. Breast cancer could be detected by a lump which feels different from the rest of the tissues in the breast. The shape and size of the breast change. Other signs include skin dimpling, spontaneous nipple discharge or nipple inversion. Lumps that are observed near the armpit can also be a sign of breast cancer. Early detection can also be done through a mammogram.

Breast cancer stage is further subdivided into Stage 3-A, Stage 3-B and Stage 3-C. These categories are divided in line with the spread of the cancer cells in the breast region.

Breast cancer stage 3-A is characterized by the growth of cancerous tumor within the breast. The tumor measures around five centimeters in diameter. The spread of the cancer continues to be at the region of the lymph nodes. The risk of survival would still be high.

Breast cancer stage 3-B happens when the cancer tumor has spread to modify the tissues of the skin, muscles, ribs or the chest area. The lymph nodes might have also been affected by the cancer.

If left untreated, the cancer tumor will further spread to the neck and collar region. Breast cancer stage 3-C is either operable or non-operable. It can be operable when the spread of the cancer is below the collarbone. Once it's spread above the collarbone, it becomes inoperable. By this time, the lymph nodes have already been affected. The survival rate has reduced to thirty five percent.

To prevent the progress of breast cancer, you should know the cancer stages for its early detection and intervention. Check out http://cancerstages.org/blog/ for more information.