Stage 2 Breast Cancer

Breast cancer claims more lives every year than any other cancer type in women. It is more prevalent in developed countries. Just like any other type of cancer, this cancer is also classified in four stages, depending upon the size of tumor and metastasis of cancer cells. Stage 2 breast cancer is a fairly early stage of cancer, thus offers myriad treatment options to the patients and an excellent survival rate.

Stage 2 Breast Cancer

This stage is characterized by a tumor of minimum size 2 cm and a possible invasion to axillary lymph nodes. Depending upon these two factors, stage 2 is again subdivided into two sub stages, stage 2A and stage 2B. Stage 2A breast cancer is characterized by following conditions:

• No tumor in the breast but cancerous cells can be detected in axillary lymph nodes. OR
• A tumor of size 2 cm or less in breast, which has begun to spread to lymph nodes. OR
• A tumor of size 2 to 5 cm in breast, which has not spread to lymph nodes.

On the similar lines, a woman is said to have entered stage 2B breast cancer when,

• There is a tumor of size 2 to 5 cm which has spread to lymph nodes. OR
• A large tumor of size 5 cm or more in breast, that has not yet spread to lymph nodes.

Survival Rate

Prognosis for stage 2 of breast cancer is primarily based upon the spread of cancer cells and how well the person responds to treatments. Under average circumstances, life expectancy at stage 2 is excellent. A 5 year survival rate for stage 2A is 88% while that for stage 2B is 76%. A breast cancer stages survival rate is a figure indicating how many women in a particular stage can make it well past a 5 year mark. However, one should not get alarmed by these figures, as it is only a referential inference drawn from general survey. Besides, a 5 year survival rate does not necessarily mean that the woman will live only for 5 years. Many women, even in stage 3 and 4 outlive the survival rates for their stage. Women suffering from second stage breast cancer can live a long and healthy life.

Treatment

At stage 2, a woman can explore quite a number of breast cancer treatment options. If the tumor is limited only to breast region, then a surgery can be performed to remove the tumor. In case of a larger tumor, a chemotherapy is often recommended before surgery to shrink the tumor. A smaller tumor can be easily removed by a lumpectomy. If the cancer has spread to lymph nodes, then a mastectomy or lumpectomy is often the only option available. Surgery is followed with radiation, which kills the cancer cells that might have missed during a surgery. A chemotherapy cycle follows to ensure that the body is free of any cancer cells. As the chemotherapy affects the whole body, you can be certain that you are free of cancer. A common problem with any type of cancer is that it tends to recur within a span of 20 years. With stage 2 cancer, you have 50% chances of recurrence. However, if you only have small tumor, confined to breast alone, then recurrence chances drop to 33%. Recurrence can be monitored and controlled through regular screenings.

Thus, breast cancer at stage 2 can be controlled and eradicated with a combination of cancer treatments. A strong will power and positive attitude goes a long way in fighting against cancer.