Prognosis of Breast Cancer

Prognosis of Breast Cancer: Depends on severity. Early detection has good chances.

Survival rate for Breast Cancer: 78% survival rate in the UK 2001 (National Statistics – UK Government Census, 2001)

Survival rate statistics for Breast Cancer: The following are statistics from various sources about the survival rate for Breast Cancer:

• 80.4% of women with breast cancer survive after 5 years in the US 1983-90 (SEER)
• Breast cancer survival rates by stage of disease:
  • 100% of women survive breast cancer if it is detected before it starts to spread in the US (The American Cancer Society)
  • 98% of women survive breast cancer if it is detected while it is smaller than 2cm in diameter and hasn’t spread in the US (The American Cancer Society)
  • 88% of women survive breast cancer if it is detected while it is 2-5cm in diameter and has spread to axillary lymph nodes in the US (The American Cancer Society)
  • 76% of women survive breast cancer if it is detected even over 5cm in diameter if it hasn’t spread to axillary lymph nodes in the US (The American Cancer Society)
  • 76% of women survive breast cancer if it is detected while it is 2-5cm in diameter and has spread to axillary lymph nodes in the US (The American Cancer Society)
  • 56% of women survive breast cancer if it is detected after it has spread to axillary lymph nodes and to axillary tissues in the US (The American Cancer Society)
  • 49% of women survive breast cancer if it is detected after it has attached itself to the chest wall and chest lymph nodes in the US (The American Cancer Society)
  • 16% of women survive breast cancer if it is detected after it has spread to other parts of the body such as bone, lung or liver in the US (The American Cancer Society)
• Overall breast cancer survival rates by racial subgroups:
  • 5-year survival rate for black women with breast cancer is 65.8% in the US 1983-90 (SEER)
  • 5-year survival rate for white women with breast cancer is 81.6% in the US 1983-90 (SEER)
  • 5-year survival rate for women with breast cancer is 80.4% in the US 1983-90 (SEER)
  • 83% of women aged 20-74 survive five years after breast cancer diagnosis in Australia 1992-97 (Cancer Survival in Australia, 1992-97, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
  • 88% of white people survive 5 years in the US 1992-99 (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
  • 74% of African American people survive 5 years in the US 1992-99 (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
  • 87% survive 5 years in the US 1992-99 (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
  • 79% for 5 year survival if under 45 years old in the US (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
  • 84% for 5 year survival if 45-64 years old in the US (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
  • 87% for 5 year survival if over 65 years old in the US (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
  • 5 year survival rate lower for Hispanic women than Caucasian women in the US (Cancer Facts and Figures, American Cancer Society, 2004)
• 1-year survival rate for women aged 15-99 with breast cancer is 91.1% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 5-year survival rate for women aged 15-99 with breast cancer is 72.8% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 1-year survival rate for women aged 15-39 with breast cancer is 96% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 5-year survival rate for women aged 15-39 with breast cancer is 71% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 1-year survival rate for women aged 40-49 with breast cancer is 96% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 5-year survival rate for women aged 40-49 with breast cancer is 78% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 1-year survival rate for women aged 50-59 with breast cancer is 96% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 5-year survival rate for women aged 50-59 with breast cancer is 81% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 1-year survival rate for women aged 60-69 with breast cancer is 93% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 5-year survival rate for women aged 60-69 with breast cancer is 78% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 1-year survival rate for women aged 70-79 with breast cancer is 87% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 5-year survival rate for women aged 70-79 with breast cancer is 68% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 1-year survival rate for women aged 80-99 with breast cancer is 77% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 5-year survival rate for women aged 80-99 with breast cancer is 51% in England and Wales 1991-95 (Cancer Survival, National Statistics)
• 18 months is the median survival for patients with advanced breast cancer at time of diagnosis (Cancer, Vol 2, No. 8: 2211-2219, American Cancer Society)
• 26 months is the median survival for patients with advanced breast cancer who are still alive two years after diagnosis (Cancer, Vol 2, No. 8: 2211-2219, American Cancer Society)
• 3.5 years is the median survival for patients with advanced breast cancer who are still alive five years after diagnosis (Cancer, Vol 2, No. 8: 2211-2219, American Cancer Society)

Average life years lost from Breast Cancer: 18.6 years (SEER)¹

Deaths from Breast Cancer: 41,100 deaths in 1999 (CDC); 41,528 deaths reported in USA 1999 (NVSR Sep 2001)

Estimated mortality rate for Breast Cancer from incidence and deaths statistics:

• Deaths: 41,100 (USA annual deaths calculated from this data: 41,100 deaths in 1999 (CDC); 41,528 deaths reported in USA 1999 (NVSR Sep 2001))
• Incidence: 204,999 (USA annual incidence calculated from this data: 205,000 annual cases (SEER 2002 estimate); 180,000 annual cases (NCI); only about 1,000 men
• 20.0% (ratio of deaths to incidence).

Complications: see complications of Breast Cancer

Prognosis of Breast Cancer discussion: Your chance of recovery (prognosis) and choice of treatment depend on the stage of your cancer (the size of the tumor and whether it is just in the breast or has spread to other places in the body), the type of breast cancer, certain characteristics of the cancer cells, and whether the cancer is found in your other breast. Your age, weight, menopausal status (whether or not you still have menstrual periods), and general health can also affect your prognosis and choice of treatment. (Source: excerpt from Breast Cancer: NWHIC)

Recurrence of Breast Cancer discussion: Approximately one of every ten patients who are treated with lumpectomy and radiation therapy will have a recurrence of breast cancer in the same breast within 12 years. Recurrence in the same breast usually requires additional surgery, but does not affect chances of survival compared to mastectomy. However, fear of recurrence of breast cancer is the reason why many women prefer a mastectomy to a lumpectomy. It seems rather obvious that you can't get cancer in your breast if your breast is removed. However, women who have undergone a mastectomy can still experience a recurrence on the chest wall where the breast was removed. Recurrence on the chest wall following a mastectomy is slightly less likely than recurrence in the same breast following a lumpectomy and radiation. (Source: excerpt from Early Stage Breast Cancer: NWHIC)

Research More About Breast Cancer

• Introduction: Breast Cancer
• Deaths: Breast Cancer
• Symptoms: Breast Cancer
• Treatments: Breast Cancer

About prognosis:

The 'prognosis' of Breast Cancer usually refers to the likely outcome of Breast Cancer. The prognosis of Breast Cancer may include the duration of Breast Cancer, chances of complications of Breast Cancer, probable outcomes, prospects for recovery, recovery period for Breast Cancer, survival rates, death rates, and other outcome possibilities in the overall prognosis of Breast Cancer. Naturally, such forecast issues are by their nature unpredictable.