Staging Breast Cancer
Once a diagnosis of breast cancer has been made, the stage of the breast cancer is determined to help determine prognosis and treatment options. The stage of the cancer may not be determined until you undergo breast cancer surgery.
Breast cancer stages range from 0 to IV, with 0 indicating that the cancer is small and noninvasive. Stage IV breast cancer (metastatic breast cancer) is where the cancer has spread to other areas of the body.
Tests and procedures to stage breast cancer may include:
Blood tests, chest x-ray, bone scan, CT scan, PET scan, or PEM.