Stage III Subsections

• Stage III breast cancer is divided into three groups: IIIA, IIIB and IIIC. These stages are a classification of the appearance and size of the tumor, as well as the location of and degree to which the surrounding tissue has been affected.
  
  

Surgery

• Two surgical options may be recommended at stage III. During a lumpectomy, the surgeon removes the tumor and tissue in the vicinity of the breast. During a mastectomy, the entire breast and lymph nodes are removed. Radiation therapy is prescribed following both surgeries to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
  
  

Chemotherapy

• Medications that destroy cancer cells may be prescribed before surgery to shrink the tumor prior to its removal. These medications are also administered following surgery to kill off any remaining cancer cells.
  
  

Hormone Therapy

• In certain cases of stage III breast cancer, medications may be prescribed that will impact the availability of specific hormones that the tumors need to grow. Hormone therapy may be used before and/or after surgery.
  
  

Biological Therapy

• Biological therapy uses the body's immune system to assist in the destruction of cancer cells. For stage III breast cancer patients, specific medications may be prescribed that will inhibit the protein HER2 from increasing the rate of production of cancer cells.