Stage 2 Breast Cancer
The second stage of breast cancer is characterized by tumors being present in the breast and/or breast cancer cells found within the lymph nodes.
The main differences between stage 1 and stage 2 breast cancer are that breast cancer cells may be present in the lymph nodes & any tumors within the breast are larger and more developed in stage 2.
Stage 2 breast cancer is divided into two sub stages: 2A & 2B.
Whether the breast cancer is within a particular sub stage depends on the size of the tumors and location of the cancer cells.
Stage 2A (IIA): Breast Cancer is Stage 2A if either of these criteria are met:
- there are no cancer cells in the lymph nodes, the cancer hasn't spread to other parts of the body and the tumor is less than 5 cm wide.
- the tumor in the breast is less than 2cm wide, the cancer hasn't spread to other parts of the body and any cancer cells in the lymph nodes have not bonded together.
- the tumor is more than 5cm wide, the cancer has not spread elsewhere although the lymph nodes may contain cancer cells which have bonded together.
Stage 2B (IIB): Breast Cancer is Stage 2B if either of these criteria are met:
- the tumor is larger than 5cm across, the cancer has not spread and cancer cells are not found in the lymph nodes under the arms.
- the lymph nodes contain scattered cancer cells which have not bonded forming tumors, the cancer has not spread around the body & any tumor within the breast is less than 5 cm.
Stage 2 Treatment
Treatments for stage 2 breast cancer are similar to stage 1 breast cancer treatments.
Stage 2 breast cancer treatment may include:
- Biological Therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Clinical Trials
- Hormone Therapy
- Radiation Therapy
- Surgery
Stage 2 Prognosis & Survival Rates
Stage 2 breast cancer survival rates are nearly as high as stage 1 survival rates.
There is an estimated 76% & 88% survival rate of stage 2 breast cancer following data from studies taken 5 years after initial breast cancer diagnoses and treatment (source: American Cancer Society).