What Is Stage II Breast Cancer, How Is It Treated And What Are The Survival Rates?

          Stage II breast cancer is divided into Stage IIA and Stage IIB. Someone with Stage IIB breast cancer has evidence of cancer in the breast and underarm lymph nodes (irrespective of what size the tumour is) or has a breast tumour that is between 2 and 5 cm in diameter and has not yet spread to the lymph nodes. Someone with Stage IIB breast cancer has a tumour larger than 2cm but less than 5 cm across and the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes (but not the rest of the body).

          Treating Stage II breast cancer involves the same procedures as Stage I, but mastectomy is carried out more routinely and follow up radiotherapy is advised more often.

          Women with Stage IIA breast cancer and Stage IIB breast cancer also do well – 92% of the first group survive for at least 5 years, as do 81% of the second group.