Dr. Lori Gore-Green | Women's Health Professional

Dr. Lori Gore-Green's Portfolio of Experience as a Women's Health Professional

Understanding the Stages of Breast Cancer

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Mammograms are an essential part of cancer prevention. Regular screening provides the best chance of early detection when cancer is easiest to treat and cure.

When breast cancer is detected, its pathology report will place it in one of five stages. Categorizing cancer into stages helps the doctor and patient decide upon and implement the best treatment options.

Recent advances in cancer staging guidelines from the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) make the staging and treatment of breast cancer more complex but more accurate. Information on tumor grade, hormone-receptor status, and possible Oncotype DX test results are considered in all stages when developing a treatment plan.

One of the best ways a patient can alleviate fears of a cancer diagnosis is to understand the stages of breast cancer and the treatment options available.

Stage 0

Stage 0 defines non-invasive breast cancer such as DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ). There is no evidence of cancerous or other abnormal cells invading tissue outside of the immediate area where cancer began.

Stage I

Stage I defines invasive breast cancer, meaning that cancer cells are present in normal tissue immediately outside of where cancer started but still confined to the breast. The chance of cure for Stage 0 or Stage I is high. Stage I is further divided into subcategories IA and IB.

Stage II

Stage II describes invasive and growing breast cancer that’s larger but still confined to the breast. It may have spread to some axillary lymph nodes. Stage II divides cancer into subcategories IIA and IIB.

Stage III

Stage III comprises three subcategories–IIIA, IIIB, IIIC. Stage III generally describes a more aggressive and invasive cancer. Its size is more than 5cm and, it may be spreading into nearby muscle and lymph nodes. But it has not spread to distant organs.

Stage IV

In Stage IV, breast cancer has become metastatic. This means that it has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to distant organs in the body such as the lungs, liver, brain, or bones.

The cure rate of stage IV is reduced dramatically. But, with today’s treatments, a relatively normal life can be prolonged for several years.

Dangerous Breast Cancer Myths

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Breast cancer is a dangerous disease that will affect roughly 13 percent of women at some point in their life. This makes it the second-most common form of cancer in women. Just like other types of cancer, the disease forms when the cells in the breast start to grow abnormally. Despite the prevalence of the disease, there is still a lot of misinformation out there regarding breast cancer. These are the most dangerous breast cancer myths.

There’s Always a Lump

While a lump in the breast is the most common symptom of breast cancer, they are not present in every case. This is why it is important to get regular screenings. You may think nothing is wrong, but a mammogram can find breast cancer in the early stages. Make sure to look out for the other common symptoms including breast swelling, inverted nipples, and flaky skin around the nipple.

Problem is Almost Solved

There are still a lot of people that think breast cancer is nothing to worry about because it is easily cured. While advancements in science have drastically reduced the death rate associated with breast cancer, it is still the second-deadliest form of cancer in women. A little more than 40,000 women are still dying every year from this horrible disease. A full cure is coming soon, but we are not there yet.

Screenings Are Only Defense

Regular screenings and self-checks at home are great ways to detect breast cancer in the early stages, but they are not your only defense against the disease. You can drastically reduce your chances of developing this disease by living a healthy lifestyle. Obese women are nearly twice as likely to develop breast cancer after menopause as those living at a healthy weight. The regular consumption of alcohol also drastically boosts your chances of getting breast cancer.

No Family History, No Problem

You should not take things lightly just because there is no history of breast cancer in your family. Roughly 85 percent of breast cancer patients have no family link to the disease. Those that do have a family history of breast cancer need to be extra cautious because your risk of developing the disease is nearly double of those without a family link.

Medical Screenings & Tests Save the Lives of Women

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Dr. Lori Gore-GreenWomen benefit from routine medical screenings, which are necessary for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Women, as well as men, encounter gender-specific testing that acts as a tactical preventative step for ensuring they’re in tune with their personal health. There are a number of important tests and screenings women should submit themselves to, so that they stay abreast of diseases or conditions that threaten their long-term health, such as exams that screen for breast, lung, cervical, skin, colon, endometrial, and ovarian cancers.

Cervical Cancer: Health care professionals ask that women receive pelvic examinations as early as 21-year-old, or earlier if a woman is sexually active. Pap smear testing is instrumental for discovering if cancerous cells are present on and/or around the cervix, which could suggest cervical cancer. The general consensus is that women age 30 and older should receive pap smears every three years if they had no abnormal tests in the past. However, women who have abnormalities should chat with their gynecologist with regards to how frequently they should be tested for cervical testing.

Breast Cancer: Woman and men alike can develop breast cancer, but women face a greater risk of falling victim to cancer that develops from breast tissue. Approximately one-in-eight women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer at some point in her lifetime, according to BreastCancer.org. The sooner a woman learns she has breast cancer, the more likely she is to survive. Breast cancer that’s discovered early on is more likely to be caught, and less likely to spread to the lymph nodes. Industry professionals recommend that women self-examine, but they should also receive mammograms. Women should develop an individualized plan with their doctors regarding a mammogram screening schedule.

Skin Cancer: There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell cancer, squamous cell skin carcinoma, and melanoma, with the most serious being melanoma. These deadly forms of cancer have increased in incidence among young women. Screenings can help to identify melanoma and nonmelanoma cancer early on. Dermatologists and other healthcare professionals should be able to diagnose melanoma.

Osteoporosis: Bone density tests are administered to screen for the weakening of bones, which leads to fragility. This is also known as osteoporosis, a condition that’s frequently discovered after a fracture. Women face the additional risk of osteoporosis, particularly those going through menopause. Estrogen declines during menopause can lead to bone loss. Screening for changes through bone mineral density tests and embracing healthy living habits can help to identify issues early on. Women should begin receiving bone density tests ahead of their 65th birthday.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women get screened for a number of conditions in the interest of disease prevention, including colorectal cancer, cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes.