{"id":1862,"date":"2026-02-07T19:49:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T10:49:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.rftcjapan.org\/?page_id=1862"},"modified":"2026-06-03T13:20:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T04:20:07","slug":"tumor-size-and-staging","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/tumor-size-and-staging\/","title":{"rendered":"Tumor Size and Staging"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1862\" class=\"elementor elementor-1862\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d60cf5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0d60cf5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f44436 e-con-full elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7f44436\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb8e808 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cb8e808\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;],&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:150,&quot;sticky_parent&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_anchor_link_offset&quot;:0}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d28711 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"8d28711\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;],&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;numbers&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__8d28711\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M143 352.3L7 216.3c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l22.6-22.6c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l96.4 96.4 96.4-96.4c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l22.6 22.6c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-136 136c-9.2 9.4-24.4 9.4-33.8 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__8d28711\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-angle-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M177 159.7l136 136c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9l-22.6 22.6c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L160 255.9l-96.4 96.4c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0L7 329.7c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l136-136c9.4-9.5 24.6-9.5 34-.1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__8d28711\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c9d265 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c9d265\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About Breast Cancer<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f525336 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"f525336\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"3044\" class=\"elementor elementor-3044\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2330\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd830c6 e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fd830c6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2330\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3717cd6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3717cd6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6c4d06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e6c4d06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Breast Cancer Basics<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c84b33f elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-none elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"c84b33f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;vertical&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;i aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot; class=\\&quot;\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/i&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;&quot;}}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"\u30e1\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-vertical e--pointer-none\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-c84b33f\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2517\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/what-is-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">What is Breast Cancer?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2515\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/breast-cancer-statistics-global-japan\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Breast Cancer Statistics (Global &amp; Japan)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2516\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/understanding-the-risk-of-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Understanding the Risk of Breast Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-c84b33f\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2517\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/what-is-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">What is Breast Cancer?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2515\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/breast-cancer-statistics-global-japan\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Breast Cancer Statistics (Global &amp; Japan)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2516\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/understanding-the-risk-of-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Understanding the Risk of Breast Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2330\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67a9bd1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"67a9bd1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed0de9e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ed0de9e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Diagnosis &amp; Staging<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c981917 elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-none elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"c981917\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;vertical&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot; class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 320 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;}}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"\u30e1\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-vertical e--pointer-none\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-c981917\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2521\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/signs-and-symptoms\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Signs and Symptoms<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2522\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/the-stages-of-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">The Stages of Breast Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2523\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/tumor-size-and-staging\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Tumor Size and Staging<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2520\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/metastases-and-staging\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Metastases and Staging<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2519\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/early-stage-breast-cancers-non-invasive\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Early-Stage Breast Cancers (Non-invasive)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-c981917\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2521\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/signs-and-symptoms\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Signs and Symptoms<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2522\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/the-stages-of-breast-cancer\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">The Stages of Breast Cancer<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2523\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/tumor-size-and-staging\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Tumor Size and Staging<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2520\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/metastases-and-staging\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Metastases and Staging<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2519\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/early-stage-breast-cancers-non-invasive\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Early-Stage Breast Cancers (Non-invasive)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2330\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd578e0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dd578e0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6342a8d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6342a8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Risk Factors &amp; Genetics<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-857c29f elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-none elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"857c29f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;vertical&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot; class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 320 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;}}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"\u30e1\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-vertical e--pointer-none\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-857c29f\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2525\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/brca1-and-brca2-mutations-in-men\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Men<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2526\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/brca1-and-brca2-mutations-in-women\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Women<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2528\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/lobular-carcinoma-in-situ-lcis\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2527\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/early-life-exposures\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Early Life Exposures<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-857c29f\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2525\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/brca1-and-brca2-mutations-in-men\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Men<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2526\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/brca1-and-brca2-mutations-in-women\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Women<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2528\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/lobular-carcinoma-in-situ-lcis\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2527\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/early-life-exposures\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Early Life Exposures<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-2330\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8382bf4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8382bf4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f24ff62 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f24ff62\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Benign Breast Conditions<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e396cf6 elementor-nav-menu--dropdown-none elementor-widget elementor-widget-nav-menu\" data-id=\"e396cf6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;layout&quot;:&quot;vertical&quot;,&quot;submenu_icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg aria-hidden=\\&quot;true\\&quot; class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-down\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 320 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M31.3 192h257.3c17.8 0 26.7 21.5 14.1 34.1L174.1 354.8c-7.8 7.8-20.5 7.8-28.3 0L17.2 226.1C4.6 213.5 13.5 192 31.3 192z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;}}\" data-widget_type=\"nav-menu.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav aria-label=\"\u30e1\u30cb\u30e5\u30fc\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu--main elementor-nav-menu__container elementor-nav-menu--layout-vertical e--pointer-none\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-1-e396cf6\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7721\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/chemo-side-effects\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Chemo side effects<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2529\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/patient-faq\/\" class=\"elementor-item\">Patient FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-nav-menu--dropdown elementor-nav-menu__container\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul id=\"menu-2-e396cf6\" class=\"elementor-nav-menu sm-vertical\"><li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7721\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/chemo-side-effects\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Chemo side effects<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2529\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/patient-faq\/\" class=\"elementor-item\" tabindex=\"-1\">Patient FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b499c8c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b499c8c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78e285b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"78e285b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tumor Size and Staging<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a50d844 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a50d844\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">When breast cancer is diagnosed, one of the first questions people ask is: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u201cWhat stage is it?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p><p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Breast cancer staging helps doctors understand <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">how large the tumor is, whether it has spread, and how best to treat it.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p><p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Tumor size is an important part of staging\u2014but it is <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">not the only factor.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83bb6ec e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"83bb6ec\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-087fee9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"087fee9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c76e4fb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c76e4fb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c662b5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4c662b5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae837a2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ae837a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">T<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb3d4d0 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-absolute elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"fb3d4d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-window-minimize\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M480 480H32c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32s14.3-32 32-32h448c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c8d8630 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c8d8630\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"64\" height=\"62\" src=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/wpdata\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Tumor-size-Card-Vectorimage.svg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7388\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7acdf87 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7acdf87\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07eba9a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"07eba9a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tumor Size<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b7e941 no-style-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0b7e941\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"color: #993366;\"><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">T-1:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> 0-2 centimeters<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #993366;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">T-2:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> 2-5 centimeters<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #993366;\"><strong>T-3: <\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">&gt;5 centimeters<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #993366;\"><strong>T-4: <\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tumor has broken through skin or attached to chest wall<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c088e9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4c088e9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8fa79c1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8fa79c1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aee8aae e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"aee8aae\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2eeded9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2eeded9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">N<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49d57b2 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-absolute elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"49d57b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-window-minimize\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M480 480H32c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32s14.3-32 32-32h448c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0bb123e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0bb123e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"63\" height=\"47\" src=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/wpdata\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Lymph-node-status-Card-Vectorimage.svg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7402\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dcd81a3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dcd81a3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-42e0f90 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"42e0f90\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Lymph Node Status<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09978ec no-style-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"09978ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"color: #993366;\"><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">N-0:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> Surgeon can&#8217;t feel any nodes<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #993366;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">N-1:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> Surgeon feels swollen nodes<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #993366;\">N-2:<\/span><\/strong> Nodes feel swollen and lumpy<\/span><\/p><p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #993366;\">N-3:<\/span><\/strong> Swollen nodes located near collarbone<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cdc7ce e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6cdc7ce\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f29db5e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f29db5e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82ba6ff e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"82ba6ff\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d208378 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d208378\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">M<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6983efb elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-absolute elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"6983efb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-window-minimize\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M480 480H32c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32s14.3-32 32-32h448c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3e8ac9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e3e8ac9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"64\" height=\"49\" src=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/wpdata\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Metastasis-Card-Vectorimage.svg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-7403\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6e08e6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a6e08e6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-936c76a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"936c76a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Metastasis<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70dadd2 no-style-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"70dadd2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"color: #993366;\"><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">M-0:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> Tested nodes are <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">cancer-free<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #993366;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">M-1:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> Tested nodes show cancer cells or micrometastatis<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d764c64 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d764c64\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-275b96e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"275b96e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Is Tumor Size?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8359791 color-bullet-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8359791\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Tumor size<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> refers to the measurement of the cancer in the breast. It is usually measured in <\/span><\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">centimeters (cm)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> during imaging, surgery, or pathology examination.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">As a general guide:<\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Small tumors<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> are usually easier to treat<\/span><\/span><\/li><li><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Larger tumors<\/span><\/span><\/strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> may require more extensive treatment<\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">However, even small tumors can sometimes be aggressive, and many larger tumors are still highly treatable.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5df01e3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5df01e3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9fd65f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d9fd65f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tumor Size Categories (T Stage)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-181fc83 color-bullet-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"181fc83\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Tumor size is described using the \u201cT\u201d category of the TNM staging system.<\/p><ul><li><strong>Tis (in situ)<\/strong><br \/>Non-invasive cancer, such as DCIS, confined to the milk ducts or lobules<\/li><li><strong>T1<\/strong> \u2013 Tumor is 2 cm or smaller<ul><li>T1a: 0.1\u20130.5 cm<\/li><li>T1b: 0.6\u20131.0 cm<\/li><li>T1c: 1.1\u20132.0 cm<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><strong>T2<\/strong> \u2013 Tumor is larger than 2 cm but not larger than 5 cm<\/li><li><strong>T3<\/strong> \u2013 Tumor is larger than 5 cm<\/li><li><strong>T4<\/strong> \u2013 Tumor of any size that has spread to the skin or chest wall<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c894831 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c894831\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7154c6a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7154c6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Is Breast Cancer Staging?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4713a0 color-bullet-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a4713a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Breast cancer stage describes how far cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis. Staging combines several factors:<\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Tumor size (T)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Lymph node involvement (N)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Presence of distant spread (M)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This is known as the <\/span><\/span><strong style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">TNM system.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e14354 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7e14354\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88de659 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"88de659\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Breast Cancer Stages (0\u2013IV)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-97a780e color-bullet-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"97a780e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Stage 0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><br \/><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u2022 Non-invasive cancer (DCIS or LCIS)<\/span><\/span><br \/><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u2022 Cancer cells are confined to their original location<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Stage I<\/span><\/span><\/strong><br \/><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u2022 Small invasive tumor (2 cm or smaller)<\/span><\/span><br \/><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u2022 No lymph node involvement or only microscopic involvement<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Stage II<\/span><\/span><\/strong><br \/><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u2022 Larger tumor and\/or spread to nearby lymph nodes<\/span><\/span><br \/><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u2022 Still considered <\/span><\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">early-stage breast cancer<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Stage III<\/span><\/span><\/strong><br \/><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u2022 Cancer has spread more extensively to nearby lymph nodes or tissues<\/span><\/span><br \/><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u2022 Known as <\/span><\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">locally advanced breast cancer<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Stage IV<\/span><\/span><\/strong><br \/><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u2022 Cancer has spread to distant organs such as bone, liver, lung, or brain<\/span><\/span><br \/><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u2022 Also called <\/span><\/span><strong><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span dir=\"auto\" style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">metastatic breast cancer<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ae6b64 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8ae6b64\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6329074 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6329074\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tumor Size Is Only One Part of the Story<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ddcaf3c color-bullet-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ddcaf3c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Modern breast cancer staging also considers <strong>biologic factors<\/strong>, including:<\/p><ul><li>Hormone receptor status (estrogen and progesterone)<\/li><li>HER2 status<\/li><li>Tumor grade (how fast the cancer cells are growing)<\/li><li>Genomic test results (in some cases)<\/li><\/ul><p>This means two tumors of the same size may have <strong style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';\">different stages and treatment plans.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8d45a2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f8d45a2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35301f2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"35301f2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why Staging Matters<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54ca81b color-bullet-list elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"54ca81b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Staging helps doctors:<\/p><ul><li>Recommend the most effective treatment<\/li><li>Estimate prognosis<\/li><li>Compare treatment outcomes<\/li><li>Create a personalized care plan<\/li><\/ul><p>Earlier stages generally have <strong style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';\">higher survival rates<\/strong><span style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';\">, which is why <\/span><strong style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';\">early detection through screening is so important.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d2dc648 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d2dc648\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1971d1f e-con-full section-s e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1971d1f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e5e0253 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e5e0253\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b98e0be elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b98e0be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Reassuring Message<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d2ba7c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d2ba7c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Hearing words like \u201ctumor size\u201d and \u201cstage\u201d can be overwhelming. But breast cancer treatment today is highly individualized, and outcomes continue to improve\u2014even for more advanced stages.\n<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc192dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dc192dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you have questions about your stage, ask your healthcare team to explain what it means for <strong>your specific diagnosis.<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Knowledge brings clarity. Early detection saves lives.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9de0054 elementor-absolute elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"9de0054\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-bookmark\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M0 512V48C0 21.49 21.49 0 48 0h288c26.51 0 48 21.49 48 48v464L192 400 0 512z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents About Breast Cancer When breast cancer is diagnosed, one of the first questions people ask is: \u201cWhat stage is it?\u201d Breast cancer staging helps doctors understand how large the tumor is, whether it has spread, and how best to treat it. Tumor size is an important part of staging\u2014but it is not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":27,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1862","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tumor Size and Staging - RFTC Japan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/rftcjapan.org\/en\/about-breast-cancer\/tumor-size-and-staging\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tumor Size and Staging - RFTC Japan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Table of Contents About Breast Cancer When breast cancer is diagnosed, one of the first questions people ask is: \u201cWhat stage is it?\u201d Breast cancer staging helps doctors understand how large the tumor is, whether it has spread, and how best to treat it. 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