Stages of breast cancer
The different stages of cancer are important to know but we believe being given a number of each stage is not memorable. Here is a definition of each stage of breast cancer, so you can understand your partner’s illness.
Stage 1
Early stages of cancer
cancer is small and only in the breast tissue or in lymph nodes close to the breast
Stage 3
Stage 2
Still in the early stages of cancer
Cancer is small and only in the breast tissue or in lymph nodes close to the breast.
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Spread close to the breast, or skin of breast/chest wall
Also known as locally advanced breast cancer
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Stage 4
Cancer has spread to other parts of the body
Also known as advanced cancer/secondary breast cancer, or metastatic breast cancer.
Tumour can be any size
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Described as invasive breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other organs of the body, such as the lungs, distant lymph nodes, skin, bones, liver, or brain.
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Stage 5
Survival rates
You may be feeling like your partner has been diagnosed with a death sentence or a time limit to life. This is not the case as breast cancer has one of the highest survival rates which is increasing each year. Halo of Help is
all about giving you a journey of hope.
Understanding Breast Cancer?
Stage 1
99% of women survive stage 1 breast cancer, 5 years on or more
Stage 2
Stage 3
90% of women survive stage 2 breast cancer 5 years on or more
60% of women survive 5 years on or more
Overall survival
95% survive 1 year or more on
90% survive 5 years on more after diagnoses
80% survive up to 10 years on more after
65% survive up to 20 years or more after diagnoses
Stage 4
60% of women survive 5 years on or more
Understanding breast cancer
We know breast cancer is cancer in the breast. We believe it is important for you to fully understand the medical side of this is what this truly means for your partner, so you can help them in the best way possible.
SYMPTOMS
What is it?
Breast cancer is a malignant tumour, which is a collection of cancer cells
Breast cancer and its complications can affect nearly every part of the body
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Symptoms
Headaches
Loss of appetite
Pain/burning sensation
Persistent fatigue
Nausea
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Your feelings
Confused
Overwhelmed
Overthinking
Losing sleep
Fatigue
No appetite
Sad
Helpless
Weight loss/gain
After diagnosis
This is a time of uncertainty and is often a distressing and overwhelming time. It is important for you to know what to expect and what is to come for you and your partner.
Next step
A doctor will run a series of tests on the cancer and nearby tissues to create a “profile” of how the breast cancer looks and behaves.
This is usually done after the initial biopsy.
All of these lab reports together make up a complete pathology report.
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Size and appearance of the breast cancer
How quickly it is growing
Signs of spreading to nearby tissue
Inside the body looking at hormones and genetic mutations that can affect development and growth.
Report