Carcinoma in situ (Stage 0 breast cancer)
Breast cancer in situ are early cancers that have not yet spread to other parts of the body. They and account for about 15 to 20 percent of all breast cancers cases. The two type of carcinoma in situ are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS).

Patients with this condition have a 25 percent chance of developing breast cancer in either breast in the next 25 years.

Stage I
Stage I defines a tumor that is no larger than two centimeters (about three-quarters of an inch) and has not spread outside the breast. This is also an early stage of cancer.

Stage II
Any of the following may be present:

• The tumor is no larger than two centimeters but has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm (the axillary lymph nodes).
• The tumor is between two and five centimeters (from one to two inches), and may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.
• The tumor is larger than five centimeters (larger than two inches), but has not spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.

Stage III
Stage III is cancer that has spread, but only areas close tot he breast. Stage III is  subdivided into stages IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC.

Stage IIIA is defined by either of the following:

• The tumor is smaller than five centimeters and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm, and the lymph nodes are attached to each other or to other structures.
• The tumor is larger than five centimeters and has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.

Stage IIIB is defined by either of the following:

• The tumor has spread to tissues near the breast (skin or chest wall, including the ribs and the muscles in the chest).
• The tumor has spread to lymph nodes inside the chest wall along the breast bone.

Stage IIIC is defined by a tumor of any size, and the cancer has spread either to the lymph nodes behind the breastbone and under the arm; or above or below the collarbone.

Stage IV 
Stage IV is defined by either of the following:

• The cancer has spread to other organs of the body, most often the bones, lungs, liver, or brain.
• The tumor has spread locally to the skin and lymph nodes inside the neck, near the collarbone.

Inflammatory breast cancer
This is a rare type of cancer in which the breast looks as if it is inflamed because of its red appearance and warmth. Skin may show signs of ridges and wheals or it may have a pitted appearance.

Recurrent
In this stage, the cancer has come back (recurred) after treatment. It may come back in the breast, in the soft tissues of the chest (the chest wall), or in another part of the body.

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