breast cancer ribbon
Breast cancer is divided into four stages based on the seriousness, considering such factors as the size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread. Stage 3 breast cancer is in turn divided into three subgroups. The prognosis is more positive the earlier the stage and subgroup.
Stage 3
The five-year survival rate for Stage 3 breast cancer is approximately 54 and 67 percent.
Stage 3A
With Stage 3A breast cancer is present when any of the following three sets of criteria are met: There are no tumors present in the breast, cancer has not spread and lymph nodes contain cancer cells that are stuck together; there is a tumor that is less than 5 cm wide, lymph nodes contain cancer cells clumped together but the cancer has not spread elsewhere in the body; or there is a tumor wider than 5 cm, the cancer has not spread and the lymph nodes contain cancer cells that may be stuck together.
Stage 3B
With Stage 3B breast cancer, there are cancer cells that have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone, or there's a tumor of any size that has spread to the skin and/or chest, with cancer cells present in lymph nodes that are sticking to other structures or are clumped together.
Stage 3C
Stage 3C breast cancer is defined as a tumor that has spread to the lymph nodes around the collarbone or the lymph nodes under the breastbone and under the arms.
Societal and Economic Factors
As with many other conditions, due to issues of wealth and access to treatment and information, women in lower social and economic brackets have lower survival rates than those in higher groups.
Tags: lymph nodes, breast cancer, cancer cells, Stage breast, Stage breast cancer, cancer spread, spread lymph
