Stage One Breast Cancer

More women suffer from breast cancer than any other type of cancer out there. Without a doubt, the earlier you can catch breast cancer, the better. To that end, there are several stages of breast cancer: 0; I; II; III; IIIA; IIIB; IIIC; IV. Stage zero and stage one represent some of the earliest stages of breast cancer. Consequently, they have a higher survival rate. The five year survival rate for stage one breast cancer is 98 percent to 100 percent.

It is easy to locate this stage of breast cancer, but doing so depends on you. You need, for starters, to be aware of the medical histories for the women in your family: your mother, your grandmothers, and even your aunts. You also need to take extra care to receive breast exams. This includes enacting self breast exams on yourself and regularly seeing your doctor in order to get a mammogram.

Often times, tumors are almost impossible to detect, especially in their early stages. Stage one is an invasive breast cancer, but the tumor will generally be no bigger than two centimeters across. The cancer cells have not spread any further than the breast in which it is located. Invasive breast cancer indicates that the tumor is malignant, and therefore has a high risk of spreading to other areas of your body.

As mentioned, without a mammogram, MRI, ultrasound, or other clinical means, it can be difficult to detect a tumor. However there are other symptoms than can alert you to the presence of the first stage of breast cancer. Your nipple or the breast itself may start to feel differently. You may actually feel a lump, or at least a thicker area. This will usually be close to your underarm. Your nipple may feel very tender as well, and either it, your breast, or both may undergo changes in appearance. They may appear larger, the shape may change, or the overall size may alter. The color and texture of your skin may change as well. You may notice swelling, redness, or a scaly texture, such as pits or ridges. Your nipple can also begin to discharge fluid.

This stage of cancer is invasive, it can still spread. The earlier it is detected, however, the more likely you are to beat it completely.