Breast Cancer Staging and Prognosis
Breast Cancer staging is determined by TNM classification based on :
- cancer’s characteristics,
- size of tumour, (T)
- no. of nodes involved (N)
- if cancer has spread to other parts of the body beyond the breasts (M)
Staging will determine the prognosis, survival rate and help plan your treatment.
Clinical Staging
- Preliminary staging from core biopsy of breast tissue and imaging
Pathological Staging
- Final standarised staging after removal of the breast lump and nodes during surgery.
Source: BCPBF The Cancer Foundation
AJCC Breast Cancer Staging – 7th Edition
Links
Breast Cancer Prognostic Indicators
Several prognostic indicators will determine the risk of recurrence and survival rate. It also determines the optimal therapy for a patient with early stage breast cancer.
