Last Stages of Breast Cancer

In the United States, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death by cancer for women. Men can also suffer from breast cancer, but it is not common. At one time, diagnoses typically meant a radical mastectomy and removal of the lymph nodes and muscles located beneath the breast. Today there are other treatment options. There are different stages of cancer, and it is important to detect the disease in its early stage.

Size

In the later stages of cancer, the tumor can grow larger than 5 centimeters.

Lymph Nodes

As breast cancer progresses, the tumor can spread to the auxiliary lymph nodes.

Skin

In the later stages, the tumor will have spread to the chest wall and the skin of the breast.

Organs

In the later stages of cancer, the cancer can spread to other organs of the body, including the lungs, bone, brain or liver.

Metastatic

Metastatic cancer means the cancer has spread throughout the body. During the last and final stages of breast cancer, it becomes metastatic.

Resources

• Mayo Clinic on Breast Cancer