Breast Cancer Staging

When a diagnosis of breast cancer has been made, one of the most important factors for determining how the disease will be treated is its stage of progression. Physicians who specialize in cancer staging may employ advanced imaging studies including CT, MRI and PET scans as well as chest x-rays, additional mammograms, biopsies, bone scans and even blood tests. The standard system for staging breast cancer is the “TNM System.” The “T” represents a gauge of the tumor’s size, while the “N” denotes whether cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and the “M” is for metastasis, or how far the cancer may have spread beyond its point of origination. By determining these measures, your physician will be able to rate the cancer at one of five stages, ranging from zero through four, and can proceed toward an appropriate treatment plan that may include excision of the tumor, targeted radiation, chemotherapy, breast-sparing surgery or other options.