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

          Someone is diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer if a tumour is detected but this is 2cm or less across and it shows no sign of having spread either to the lymph nodes under the arm, or anywhere else in the body.

          Stage I breast cancer is the least severe form of breast cancer with a single tumour less than 2 cm in diameter, with no evidence of cancer in the rest of the body. The tumour can be removed without removing the breast in an operation called a lumpectomy. Some doctors will recommend a full breast removal operation. In both cases, the lymph nodes under the nearest arm are usually also taken away and the woman may then have a course of radiotherapy to make sure all the cancer cells have been destroyed.

          Doctors who treat breast cancer measure survival rates by looking at the percentage of women with a particular stage of breast cancer that are still alive 5 years after diagnosis. Women diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer usually get treatment in plenty of time to stop their cancer spreading and 100% of them live for 5 years.