Stage IIIA

T0-T2, N2, M0 / T3, N1-N2, M0 – this stage can mean a few different things. Your tumor is either not found in your breast (T0), or is less than 2 cm (T1), or is between 2-5 cm (T2), and 4-9 lymph nodes in your armpit are affected (N2). This stage could also mean that your tumor is bigger than 5 cm (T3), and 1-9 lymph nodes in your armpit are affected (N1-N2). There is no mets in this stage (M0). Depending on tumor size, you might or might not feel a lump in your breast. Also, you might feel a lump in your affected armpit. There might be a change in the size, shape, or overall appearance of your breast. You might have localized breast pain.

Imaging studies, such as a mammogram, are done along with a biopsy for diagnosis. Depending on tumor size, surgery could either be a lumpectomy or a modified radical mastectomy. After surgery, regardless of the kind, radiation, chemo, and/or hormone therapy typically follows. If your tumor is larger than 5 cm, chemo might be given as a neoadjuvant therapy to a modified radical mastectomy, with radiation, more chemo, and/or hormone therapy as adjuvant treatments. The 5-year survival rate for stage IIIA breast cancer is almost 70%.

Stage IIIB

T4, N0-N2, M0 – this stage means that the cancer is no longer just in your breast tissue; it has spread either to your chest wall underneath your breast or to the skin of your breast (T4). It also means that either none of your lymph nodes are affected (N0), or the cancer has spread to 1 to 9 lymph nodes in your armpit (N1-N2). The lymph nodes inside your breast (known as the internal mammary lymph nodes) might or might not be affected. But it has not spread to distant sites (M0). You may experience any of the following signs and symptoms: a painless mass in your breast, edema or swelling of your breast, an overall change in the appearance of your breast, pain in your breast, nipple retraction (meaning the nipple has turned inwards), nipple discharge, reddened skin with tenderness or a lump on the skin of your breast (if the skin is involved), and/or a lump in your armpit (if your lymph nodes are involved).

Imaging studies, such as a mammogram, are done along with a biopsy for diagnosis. You will most likely receive chemotherapy before having a modified radical mastectomy done. Radiation therapy will follow, along with more chemo and/or hormone therapy.

A rare type of breast cancer that typically falls in this stage is inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). It is an aggressive form of breast cancer, and is called “inflammatory” because it causes your breast to look swollen and red (inflamed) by blocking the lymph vessels of your breast’s skin. You may experience other symptoms such as warmth in your breast, a change in the color of your breast (pink, reddish purple, or bruised), ridges in your breast (a symptom called peau d'orange, meaning orange peel), heaviness, burning, aching, increase in breast size, tenderness, or nipple retraction. You might not feel a lump in your breast, but you might feel swollen lymph nodes in your armpit, above the collarbone, or in both places.

Diagnosis and treatment for IBC is similar to the diagnosis and treatment for the typical stage IIIB breast cancer. But if other organs are affected at the time of diagnosis, then IBC will be considered stage IV, and its treatment will be similar to the treatment for that stage. The 5-year survival rate for stage IIIB breast cancer is more than 50%.

Stage IIIC

T0-T4, N3, M0 – this stage means that either there is no tumor found in your breast (T0), or that the tumor is any size (T1-T3), or that the tumor has spread to your chest wall underneath your breast or to the skin of your breast (T4). It also means that 10 or more of your axillary lymph nodes are affected (N3). The lymph nodes below your collar bone, or the ones above your collar bone, or the ones inside your breast could be affected as well. Still, there is no mets (M0). Depending on tumor size, you might experience any of following signs and symptoms: a painless mass in your breast, edema or swelling of your breast, pain in your breast, reddened skin with tenderness or a lump on the skin of your breast (if the skin is involved), and/or a lump in your armpit (if your lymph nodes are involved.

Imaging studies, such as a mammogram, are done along with a biopsy for diagnosis. You will most likely receive chemotherapy before having a modified radical mastectomy done. Radiation therapy will follow, along with more chemo and/or hormone therapy. Because stage IIIC breast cancer is a relatively new stage (it was developed only a few years ago), its 5-year survival rate has not yet been established.

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