TNBC Stages & Grades

What are the stages of TNBC?

We’ll start by saying it can be confusing. There are multiple words, numbers and letters used.

Let’s try to break it down.

The stage of breast cancer is a way of describing how big the breast cancer is, and which parts of the body are affected.1

The stage of the cancer helps you and your doctor:

  • Figure out the likely outcome of breast cancer treatment (your prognosis).
  • Decide on the best treatment options for you.
  • Determine if certain clinical trials may be a good option for you.

The size (T) is given a number based on 5 main stages.1

Stage 0: refers to ‘pre-invasive’ breast cancer such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) – size is not used for stage 0.

Stage 1 or I: The tumour is up to 2 cm in size and has not spread to lymph nodes.

Stage 2 or II (IIA or IIB): The tumour is between 2 cm and 5 cm, or the cancer has spread to one or more lymph nodes near the breastbone or under the arm.

Stage 3 or III (Stage IIIA, IIIB or IIIC): The tumour is larger than 5 cm or involves multiple lymph nodes, including those near the collarbone or chest wall.
Stage 4 or IV (Metastatic): The cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain.

Your doctor may use the tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) system1 which describes:

  • Tumour – the size of the primary tumour.
  • Nodes – whether and where lymph nodes have cancer cells.
  • Metastases – whether the cancer has metastasised (spread) to other parts of the body.

The lymph node (N) staging is:1

Category 1: Where breast cancer cells have been found in 1 to 3 lymph nodes in the armpit (axilla).

Category 2: Where breast cancer cells have been found in either:

  • 4 to 9 lymph nodes in the armpit, and the lymph nodes are also enlarged and/or attached to each other or to nearby tissue; or
  • 1 or more lymph nodes under the breastbone, but not in any lymph nodes in the armpit.

Category 3: Where breast cancer cells have been found in either:

  • 10 or more lymph nodes in the armpit; or
  • 1 or more lymph nodes above or below the collarbone; or
  • 1 or more lymph nodes under the breastbone and 1 or more lymph nodes in the armpit.
Early breast cancer means you have either Stage I, Stage IIA or Stage IIB (early).1
Locally advanced breast cancer means you have either Stage IIB (advanced), Stage IIIA, Stage IIIB, or Stage IIIC.1

Advanced or metastatic breast cancer (also sometimes called secondary cancer) means you have stage IV.1

What do the grades mean?

The grade of a tumour describes how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope, which can indicate how quickly the cancer is likely to grow and spread.2

Grade 1 (Low Grade): Cancer cells look somewhat like normal cells and usually grow slowly.

Grade 2 (Intermediate Grade): Cancer cells look more abnormal and grow at a moderate rate.

Grade 3 (High Grade): Cancer cells look very different from normal cells and tend to grow and spread more aggressively.2

References

References:

1. Cancer Australia. Stages of breast cancer. [Accessed 6/9/2024]. Available at: https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/breast-cancer/symptoms-and-diagnosis/stages-breast-cancer
2. National Breast Cancer Foundation. Stages & Types of Breast Cancer. [Accessed 6/9/2024]. Available at: https://nbcf.org.au/about-breast-cancer/diagnosis/stages-of-breast-cancer/

Find out more information about staging and grades

Click here

Stage Selector

This site is tailored to meet you where you are, offering practical resources, personal stories, insights, and more—all in one easy-to-navigate space. By choosing the stage relevant to you, the information available on this site will be tailored to you.

Stage 1-3
Stage 4
All Stages

Glossary of Key Terms

These are explanations of terms that medical professionals and others may use when discussing your TNBC.

Advanced breast cancer

A commonly used term for secondary, metastatic or stage 4 breast cancer

Adjuvant therapy/treatment

Treatment (e.g. chemotherapy) given after surgery.

Alopecia

Hair loss

Areola

The area around the nipple

Axillary dissection/clearance

The removal of some or all of the lymph nodes from the armpit to see if the breast cancer has spread beyond the breast.

Benign

Not cancerous

Biopsy

The removal of cells or tissue from the body to see if they are cancer cells

BRCA1 and BRCA2

Women with a fault, or mutation, in one of these genes have a higher than normal chance of developing breast or ovarian cancer

Breast conserving surgery

Surgery to remove breast cancer and a small area of healthy tissue around the cancer. Also known as lumpectomy.

Chemotherapy

Treatment for cancer using drugs

Clinical trials

Studies involving patients to see if a new treatment is better than an existing one

Complementary medicines

Complementary medicines are products that are used in addition to conventional medical treatments (e.g. chemotherapy and hormone therapies). Complementary medicines include vitamin and mineral supplements, such as fish oil capsules or vitamin D tablets, and herbal medicines.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies are practices that are used in addition to conventional medical treatments (e.g. chemotherapy and hormone therapies).Some examples of complementary therapies often used by women with breast cancer include massage, yoga, acupuncture and reflexology.

Double mastectomy

Removal of both breasts during breast cancer surgery

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)

Non-invasive breast cancer confined to the ducts of the breast

Early breast cancer

Breast cancer that has not spread beyond the breast or lymph nodes under the arm

Early menopause

Menopause occurring in women under 45 years of age. Early menopause is often a side effect of some common treatments for breast cancer.

Lymph nodes

Glands in the armpit and other parts of the body that filter and drain lymph fluid, trapping bacteria, cancer cells and any other particles that could be harmful to the body

Lymphoedema

A condition that sometimes develops when lymph nodes have been removed during breast cancer surgery and the lymph fluid no longer drains freely, causing swelling in the arm, hand or breast

Lumpectomy

Another name for breast conserving surgery

Mastectomy

The removal of the whole breast during breast cancer surgery

Metastatic breast cancer

Another term for secondary, advanced, or stage 4 breast cancer

Multidisciplinary Team

Often abbreviated to MDT. A team of health professionals who work together to manage a patient’s treatment and care

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treatment given before breast cancer surgery (sometimes used to reduce the size of the tumour to make it easier for the surgeon to operate)

Oestrogen

A type of female hormone

Partial mastectomy

Another term for breast conserving surgery

PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)

A scheme funded by the Australian Government to subsidise the cost of certain drugs for eligible consumers

Progesterone

A type of female hormone

Radiotherapy

Treatment for cancer using X-rays that target a particular area of the body

Secondary breast cancer

Breast cancer that has spread from the breast to other, more distant parts of the body, most commonly the bones, lungs, liver and sometimes the brain. Also known as advanced, metastatic, or stage 4 breast cancer.

Sentinel node biopsy

identification and removal of the first lymph node to which the breast cancer may have spread for testing by a pathologist

Seroma

Fluid that collects in or around a scar after surgery

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