Breast cancer is a condition in which malicious cells in the breast multiply abnormally. There are various stages and symptoms of breast cancer, depending on the size of the tumor and how far the disease has spread. Understanding these can determine the prognosis and treatment options for the patient and facilitate early diagnosis and timely treatment. Read on to know more about the stages and symptoms of breast cancer.

1. Stages of breast cancer

• Stage 0
  Cancer is non-invasive at this stage, and the cancerous cells have not spread to other parts of the breast or the nearby tissues.
• Stage I
  Cancer is invasive at this stage, and the cancerous cells have started invading the nearby tissues. In stage IA, the size of the tumor can be up to 2 cm. The cells have not reached the parts outside the breast and have not affected any lymph nodes at this stage. In stage IB, the tumor is not bigger than 2 cm, and the cancerous cells can be found in the lymph nodes.
• Stage II
  At stage IIA, the tumor is not found in the breast, but cancer has invaded one to three lymph nodes under the arm. It may also affect the lymph nodes near the breast bone. The tumor is 2 cm and has reached the lymph nodes under the arm, or it is larger but hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.
  At stage IIB, a tumor not bigger than 5 cm is found, and cancerous cells can also be found in the lymph nodes in small groups. Alternatively, the tumor is bigger than 2 cm and has reached one to two lymph nodes under the arm or the breast bone. In some cases, a larger-than-5 cm tumor is found, but it hasn’t affected the lymph nodes.
• Stage III
  The tumor can be of any size at stage IIIA, and it can also have affected four to nine lymph nodes under the arm or near the breastbone. In some cases, the tumor can be bigger, and cancerous cells can be found in the lymph nodes in small groups.
  At stage IIIB, the tumor can be of any size and has reached the chest wall, causing ulcers and swelling. It can also have spread and affected up to nine lymph nodes.
• Stage IV
  At this stage, the cancer is invasive and has affected nearby lymph nodes and other organs of the body. These can include the lungs, brain, liver, and skin.

2. Symptoms of breast cancer
The different stages of breast cancer can lead to varying symptoms, and some of them are:

• The presence of a new lump in the armpit or breast
• Swelling or thickness in the breast
• Skin turning red or flaky around the nipple or the breast area
• Pain around the nipple or an inverted nipple
• Pain in any part of the breast
• Changes in the shape or size of the nipple