Science Can't Predict Cancer's Return--Yet

The stages of breast cancer depend on how much the disease has spread. The more it has spread, the lower the expected survival rate.

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Stage 0

Characteristics: Cancer has not spread beyond the ductal system.

5-year Average Survival Rate: 100%

Stage I

Characteristics: Tumor is no larger than 2 centimeters; has not spread outside the breast.

5-year Average Survival Rate: 98%

Stage IIA

Characteristics: Between 2 and 5 centimeters; doesn't involve lymph nodes.

5-year Average Survival Rate: 88%

Stage IIB

Characteristics: Has spread to underarm lymph nodes.

5-year Average Survival Rate: 76%

Stage IIIA

Characteristics: Smaller than 5 centimeters and has spread to underarm lymph nodes with nodes attached to other structures; or larger than 5 centimeters and has spread to underarm lymph nodes.

5-year Average Survival Rate: 56%

Stage IIIB

Characteristics: Has spread to tissues near the breast.

5-year Average Survival Rate: 49%

Stage IV

Characteristics: Has spread to other organs or to skin, lymph nodes inside neck.

5-year Average Survival Rate: 16%

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Source: American Cancer Society