Breast Cancer Treatment by Stage

Breast cancer treatment by stage refers to basing treatment decisions on factors such as the size of the tumor and whether it has spread. Different stages of breast cancer generally require different treatments or combinations of treatments. This article organizes forms of breast cancer treatment by stage from stage 0 to stage IV and includes information about recurrent cancer.

Breast Cancer Treatments

Breast Cancer Treatment by Stage: An Overview

Your breast cancer treatment options depend on the stage of your disease and these factors:

The size of the tumor in relation to the size of your breast
The results of lab tests (such as whether the breast cancer cells need hormones to grow)
Whether you have gone through menopause
Your general health.

In general, treatment for breast cancer may involve one or several of the following:

Surgery (see Breast Cancer Surgery)
Radiation therapy (see Breast Cancer Radiation)
Chemotherapy (see Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer)
Hormone therapy (see Breast Cancer Hormone Treatment)
Biological therapy (see Biological Therapy for Breast Cancer).

Breast cancer stages include:

Stage 0 (including lobular carcinoma in situ and ductal carcinoma in situ)
Stage I
Stage II (including IIA and IIB)
Stage III (including IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC)
Stage IV
Recurrent.

The following sections briefly describe common treatments for each breast cancer stage. Other treatments may be appropriate for some women. Your breast cancer healthcare team can help you determine which treatment options are right for you.

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