The KSK Breast Center of Irvine is a comprehensive breast care center dedicated to exceptional patient care.

About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that begins in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancerous cells that may grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women however, men can also get breast cancer.
Since breast cancer is a complex disease, there is no standard treatment for all women. Breast cancer is categorized into one of 5 stages. Staging and treatment depends upon:
  • How small or large a tumor is and where it is found in the breast
  • If cancer is found in the lymph nodes in the armpit
  • If cancer is found in other parts of the body

Stages of Breast Cancer

Stage Description
0 Cancer cells remain inside the breast duct, without invasion into normal adjacent breast tissue
I Cancer is 2 centimeters or less and is confined to the breast (lymph nodes are clear)
IIA No tumor can be found in the breast, but cancer cells are found in the axillary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm)
- OR -
The tumor measures 2 centimeters or smaller and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes
- OR -
The tumor is larger than 2 but no larger than 5 centimeters and has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes
IIB The tumor is larger than 2 but no larger than 5 centimeters and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes
- OR -
The tumor is larger than 5 centimeters but has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes
IIIA No tumor is found in the breast—Cancer is found in axillary lymph nodes that are sticking together or to other structures, or cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the breastbone
- OR -
The tumor is any size—Cancer has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, which are sticking together or to other structures, or cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the breastbone
IIIB No tumor is found in the breast—Cancer is found in axillary lymph nodes that are sticking together or to other structures, or cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the breastbone
- OR -
The tumor is any size—Cancer has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, which are sticking together or to other structures, or cancer may be found in lymph nodes near the breastbone

The tumor may be any size and has spread to the chest wall and/or skin of the breast
- AND -
May have spread to axillary lymph nodes that are clumped together or sticking to other structures, or cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone

Inflammatory breast cancer is considered at least stage 3B
IIIC There may either be no sign of cancer in the breast or a tumor may be any size and may have spread to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast
- AND -
The cancer has spread to lymph nodes either above or below the collarbone
- AND -
The cancer may have spread to axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes near the breastbone
IV The cancer has spread—or  metastasized—to  other parts of the body
 

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