For another year, the medical and civil society celebrates the World Breast Cancer Month. The main goal of this initiative, as well as of all the events that accompany it, is to increase women’s awareness of the characteristics of breast cancer and the importance of timely preventive measures. Timely diagnosis of breast cancer is a key factor for successful treatment. It has been established that a woman’s survival after a diagnosis of breast cancer directly depends on the stage at which the disease was detected and treatment started. In medical practice, 5 main stages of breast cancer are considered. Chronologically, they cover the period from the formation of the tumor entity to the time when the cancer cells metastasize and affect various organs in the body. In this order, breast cancer goes through 5 stages, indicated by a number from 0 to 4, and some of them have sub-stages. Stage 0 It covers the period of cancer cell formation, which most often begins in the milk ducts of the breast. At this stage, the cancer is non-invasive, but can only be detected by laboratory tests. This fact is indicative of the importance of preventive care in relation to breast cancer. Stage 1A This is when the tumor has grown to 2 cm in diameter and is already invasive. Stage 1B In it, in addition to a small tumor formation, clusters of cancer cells in the lymph nodes are also reported. Stage 2A Over time, the tumor may remain the same size, but the migration of cancer cells with the lymph may lead to cancer of the lymphatic vessels. In stage 2A breast cancer, it may not yet be diagnosed, but damage to the lymphatic vessels should prompt investigations. Stage 2B This is the stage when the tumor in the breast is between 2 and 5 cm in size and cancer is found in at least 3 lymph vessels. NEWS_MORE_BOX Breast cancer in any of the stages mentioned so far is curable. In most cases, combined treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy or hormone therapy, gives very positive results. Medical data indicate that the survival rate for breast cancer diagnosed and treated in the period before entering the third stage is about 98%. Stage 3 Breast cancer in stage three is characterized by 2 main features. The tumor formation is now more than 5 cm in size, and more and more lymphatic vessels are affected. It is also possible to have skin problems – sores, hard-to-heal wounds, etc. Stage 4 This is the final stage of breast cancer progression. In the fourth stage, metastases and serious damage are detected in various organs and structures of the body. The survival rate for breast cancer in the third or fourth stage is much lower compared to cases of its earlier detection. It averages around 26%. World breast cancer month is an occasion for every woman to learn about the importance of prevention and timely diagnosis of the disease. The fact is that breast cancer is curable,but the success of the treatment depends entirely on its detection at the earliest possible stage.