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What do the different breast cancer stages mean?

Staging finds out how far your breast cancer has spread. Your doctor uses tests to find the stage. These tests check if cancer is still in the breast.

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Staging tells your care team how far your breast cancer has spread. This guides your treatment plan.

To find the stage, your doctor orders imaging tests. Your doctor may also do a sentinel lymph node biopsy. This biopsy checks whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.

There are two broad categories. "In situ" means the cancer has not spread beyond where it started. "Invasive" means it has spread outside the breast. Invasive cancer may reach nearby tissue and lymph nodes. Or the cancer may spread to other parts of the body — this is called metastasis. It moves through the blood or lymph system.

Staging helps your doctor choose the right treatment. Ask your care team what your stage means for your care.

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This page is educational, not medical advice. Talk with your care team about decisions that apply to you. If something feels urgent, contact your care team — for emergencies call your local emergency number.

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