Survival Rate of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women due to cancer. It is second largest form of cancer that affects about 1.3 million women all over the world every year. Of these, 4,65,000 women succumb to this disease. However, the last decade has seen tremendous increase in the survival rate of breast cancer patients, mostly due to advance medical technology, early detection and extensive breast cancer research. The increasing incidence of breast cancer is an indication that this disease is now detected at a very early stage, which opens up a plethora of options for the patients. Let us see what's the survival rate of breast cancer and factors affecting it.

Survival Rate of Breast Cancer for Each Stage

Each type of cancer is differentiated in stages 0 to 4, depending upon the growth of cancer cells and their spread to other parts of the body. Stage 0 signifies the earliest stage of cancer, where it is least dangerous and sometimes even curable. Stage 4 on the other hand, indicates metastasis of cancer with limited treatment options and poor survival rate. It is not possible to give a correct metastatic breast cancer prognosis for a patient, since every patient is unique with distinct physical and mental characteristics. Besides other factors such as treatment, lifestyle also play an important part in determining the breast cancer stages survival rate. The survival rate is often expressed in a percentage form for a span of 5 years. Given below is a survival rate for breast cancer patients for each stage.

Stage 0 Survival Rate
Stage 0 breast cancer is the first stage of this type of cancer. In this stage, there is no actual occurrence of cancer cells. The cancer cells haven't yet broken open. Any abnormal cell growth if found in biopsy can be easily treated with drugs and other breast cancer treatments. Early detection at this stage prevents the spread of cancer to other parts and stops it from becoming lethal. Stage 0 breast cancer poses minimum threat to the life of the patient. As mentioned above survival rate for this stage is brilliant with almost no danger to the patient's life. Stage 0 offers as high as 100% survival rate for cancer patients.

Stage 1 Survival Rate
Stage 1 of breast cancer is signified with the onset of growth of cancer cells. This is the stage in which the cancer cells begin to break open and start invading neighboring normal breast cells. However, the growth of cancer is confined to breast tissues only with no involvement of lymph nodes. The effects of cancer can be reversed at this stage and its further growth can be impeded with cancer treatments. If properly detected and treated at this stage, the cancer rarely progresses to the next stage. The survival rate for this stage is also 100%.

Stage 2 Survival Rate
Stage 2 breast cancer is subdivided in two sub-stages II A and II B. Stage II A is when either the cancer has spread to axillary lymph nodes or the tumor is more than 2 cm but less than 5 cm. Stage II A survival rate is 92%. Stage II B cancer is characterized by spread of cancer to axillary lymph nodes, sometimes even to the breast bone or the tumor is more than 5 cm. Survival rate of breast cancer spread to lymph nodes is 81%.

Stage 3 Survival Rate
Stage 3 cancer is divided into three sub-stages III A, III B, III C depending upon the spread of cancer cells and the size of tumor. The cancer treatment options go on narrowing with each progressive stage. Survival rate of breast cancer stage 3 is anywhere between 54 - 67%, depending upon the factors mentioned above.

Stage 4 Survival Rate
Stage 4 is the final stage of breast cancer with poor survival rates. In this stage, the cancer has spread to other body parts including distant organs like liver or kidneys. Survival rate of breast cancer stage 4 is about 20%.

Remember, survival rate of breast cancer is not indicative of your life span. Hence, do not get discouraged with a grim survival rate for your stage. New treatment options are coming up which can dramatically lift the life expectancy of cancer patients. Hence, be positive and fight cancer with all your might. I am sure you will succeed. Good luck!