Is breast cancer staging more important or is immunohistochemistry more important?

In general, the staging of breast cancer and immunohistochemical testing are both extremely important indicators. The specific analysis is as follows:

The staging of breast cancer is determined based on factors such as tumor size, lymph node involvement, and the presence of distant metastasis. Staging helps doctors assess the severity of the disease and select appropriate treatment strategies. Based on the stage, physicians can choose various treatments including surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy. Staging plays a crucial role in both treatment selection and prognosis evaluation. Immunohistochemistry is a method used to detect tumor markers by identifying protein markers on the surface of tumor cells, thereby determining the subtype of breast cancer and guiding treatment decisions. Immunohistochemistry provides critical information such as hormone receptor status and HER2 expression levels. Based on immunohistochemical results, doctors can tailor individualized treatment plans, including endocrine therapy and targeted therapy. Thus, immunohistochemistry is also essential for personalized treatment selection and prognostic assessment.

In summary, for patients with breast cancer, early diagnosis, active treatment, and comprehensive evaluation of the disease are extremely important.