Stage 2 Breast Cancer Diagnosis

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Overview

Stage 2 Breast Cancer is divided into stages 2A and 2B depending upon the cancer’s size and location.

Understanding a Stage 2 Breast Cancer diagnosis will help you partner with your doctors to make the best treatment choice for you. Tap “Watch Now” for an easy to understand overview.

Stage 2A Breast Cancer
Stage 2B Breast Cancer
Understanding HR+, HER2, TNBC

Overview

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Stage 2A Breast Cancer diagnosis shows up in your body in 1 of 2 ways:

1. The tumor is smaller than 2 centimeters and has spread to the lymph nodes under your arm an area called the Axilla,

2. The tumor is larger than 2 centimeters, but smaller than 5 centimeters, about the size of a small lime, without affected your nearby lymph nodes, as shown in the image.

What Tests Will I Need and Why?

Blood and Imaging tests are done to understand your general health, confirm your diagnosis and determine your cancer stage.

Tissue analysis is also typically done to identify your cancer sub-type, which is critical to finding the best treatment option for you. The most common Breast Cancer sub-types are Hormone Receptor Positive, HER2 Positive and Triple Negative (TNBC).

You may also require special Saliva or Blood Analysis to look for specific mutations (actual changes in your body’s DNA), called BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Read this summary as often as needed and then tap, “Compare My Treatment Options Now” to compare your FDA-approved treatment options including, where and how the treatment will be given, what side-effects you may have and most importantly, who can help you pay for your treatment.

Cancer Research U.K. CC BY-SA 4

Overview

Listen Now

Stage 2B Breast Cancer diagnosis shows up in your body in 1 of 2 ways:

1. The tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but smaller than 5 centimeters but it has also spread to the lymph nodes under your arm.

2. The tumor is larger than 5 centimeters, about the size of a lime, but has NOT affected your lymph nodes.

What Tests Will I Need and Why?

Blood and Imaging tests are done to understand your general health, confirm your diagnosis and determine your cancer stage.

You may also require special Saliva or Blood Analysis to look for specific mutations (actual changes in your body’s DNA), called BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Cancer Research U.K. CC BY-SA 4

Your Status is critical to identifying the best treatment option for you

In addition to the size and cancer stage, your treatment options are guided by your Hormone Receptor status (+ or -) and HER2 status. Status is identified by analyzing cancer cells taken from the tumor in your breast, a procedure called a Biopsy.

HR positive (HR+)
An HR+ diagnosis means that hormones are fueling the tumor. To understand your specific sub-type, your doctors will look for Estrogen Receptors (ER) and Progesterone Receptors (PR), your tumor can have one, both or neither.

About 70% of breast cancers are HR+.

If you test positive for HR, it means that your treatment should include medications that block hormone production.

HER2 positive (HER2+)
HER2 is a protein that is found in normal cells, it gives cells a signal to grow and produce more cells. A HER2 positive (+++) breast cancer diagnosis means that the tumor cells have too many HER2 proteins, causing uncontrolled tumor cell division, tumor growth and spreading.

About 15% of all breast cancer tumors are HER2 positive (+++). Some patients with HR+ can also have HER2 positive (+++).

If you test HER2+, it means that your treatment should include medications that block the HER2 protein to stop tumor cell growth.

Triple Negative (TNBC) (aka HER2-/HR-)

A TNBC diagnosis means that analysis of your cancer cells has shown that negative results for 3 key breast cancer “fuels”: