What is Stage III Breast Cancer?

Stage III breast cancer is a condition characterized by high amounts of cancerous tissues that invade and surround the breasts. Though no specific causes for this type of cancer have been found, it is often linked to manageable conditions such as obesity and inactivity. This stage is often identified by its ability to rapidly invade other parts of the body, and its large size separates it from other types of cancer. Individuals suffering from stage III breast cancer must find an oncologist skilled in the treatment of this condition for proper treatment.

Breast cancer has been found to be one of the most common types of cancers. Though researchers have not been able to pinpoint specific causes of the disease, several links have been made. Studies have found that women who have a family history of the condition, who are overweight, inactive, and suffer from diabetes may have a predisposition to the development of breast cancer.

One of the ways in which stage III breast cancer is differentiated from other types of cancers is its ability to invade other parts of the body. Research has found that breast cancer is, in fact, one of the most common types of cancers. Once it has reached stage III, the cancerous cells can easily invade other tissues that surround those of the breasts. This makes it extremely dangerous, as it can spread to even distant parts of the body with relative ease.

Another way in which stage III breast cancer is differentiated from other types of breast cancer is its size. According to the American Cancer Society, breast tumors that are smaller than 5 centimeters in width and which have spread to between four and nine lymph nodes are classified as stage IIIA or IIIB. In contrast, breast tumors are classified as simply class III if they have spread to more than nine lymph nodes or into the chest wall, regardless of the size of the tumor. The cancer must remain in the breasts and surrounding tissue, however, and must not appear in any distant parts of the body.

According to research by the American Cancer Society, stage III breast cancer survival rates are relatively modest. Within five years of diagnosis, women who have been positively identified as suffering from this stage of the cancer typically have survival rates of around 57%. Both the chances of survival and the quality of life experienced by women who have undergone treatment can be greatly improved through help from an oncologist who is skilled in treating this particular type of cancer.