Stage 2 breast cancer is considered one of the early stage breast cancers and hence is widely considered one of the highly curable ones. There are two sub-division of stage 2 breast cancer. They are:
- Stage 2A
- Stage 2 B
Stage 2A:
This sub-division of stage 2 breast cancer is indicated by T0, N1, M0 / T1, N1, M0 / T2, N0, or M0. The tumor is not found in the breast but in one to three underarm lymph nodes, or it is larger than 2 cm in diameter and less than 5 cm but has not spread to underarm nodes, or the tumor has spread to one to three underarm lymph nodes and is less than 2 cm or not found on imaging studies or by clinical exam, but found by sentinel node biopsy as microscopic disease in internal mammary nodes. The cancer has not spread to distant sites.
Stage 2B:
B sub-division of the stage 2 breast cancer, indicated by T2, N1, M0 / T3, N0, or M0, is the cancer which has not spread to distant sites. The tumor is larger than 5 cm and has not spread to lymph nodes and does not grow into the chest wall if found by sentinel node biopsy as microscopic disease in internal mammary nodesor or the tumor has spread to one to 3 underarm lymph nodes and is less than 5 cm and larger than 2 cm in diameter.
Stage 2 Breast Cancer Treatment:
Stage 1 breast cancer treatment i.e. lumpectomy and modified radical mastectomy or axillary node dissection is usually the common treatment for stage 2 breast cancer with the exception of the radiation therapy which is often necessary if the tumor has already spread to the lymph nodes and is large. |
