Early detection and treatment are key factors in the fight against breast cancer. Following the
American Cancer Society's Guidelines for screening and early detection of breast cancer can improve your chance of finding cancer early, when treatment is most effective. Screening may involve a series of tests and exams to check your breasts for cancer.
If breast cancer is diagnosed,
breast cancer staging may be used to find out if the cancer has spread within the breast or to other parts of the body. Lower stage numbers indicate earlier stage cancer, while higher stage numbers indicate later stage cancer. Doctors determine the stage of breast cancer by looking at the size of the tumor, if it has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm, and whether or not the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. This information is very important in planning the best possible treatment.
