This article will discuss about breast cancer survival rates and its implications.

Breast Cancer Survival Rates Has Been Improving?

The prognosis for Breast cancer has been steadily improving year after year. It is estimated that the mortality rates from breast cancer have been dropping by a steady 2% each year since 1990. This is because of continuous improvements in treatment and mainly because of early detection of the disease.

The current 5 year breast cancer survival rates for women is 86% and the 10 year survival rate is 76%. These breast cancer survival rates include women of all ages and at all stages of cancer. To narrow the statistical figures, the survival rate for women whose cancer has not metastasized that is whose cancer that has not moved into the lymph system or the other parts of the body is 96%, and for women whose cancer has metastasized, the 5 year survival rate is 21%.

Breast Cancer Survival Rates by Stage

For a more individual prognosis it is important to consider the stage at which the cancer is detected. Breast cancer is divided into stages depending on the advancement of the disease ranging from stage 0 through stage 4. Breast cancer survival rates for stage 0 and 1 are as high as 100% and thereafter diminish with each stage, the lowest survival rate being 20% for stage 4.

Age too plays a role in determining breast cancer survival rates. Women under 40 appear to have a lower survival rate than older women. This may be because cancers in younger women are more aggressive.

Breast Cancer Survival Rates In Men

Breast cancer is not restricted to women only. Men too are prone to the disease, though male breast cancer accounts for only 1% of total breast cancers detected. What is alarming is that the incidence of male breast cancer is increasing. In 2006, 1,700 new cases of male breast cancer were reported in the United States and of these there were 400 deaths. While it is believed that the disease is more aggressive in men, in actuality the prognosis for the disease is the same as for women. Breast cancer survival rates for men have been lower because of late detection of the disease mainly due to a lack of awareness.

Breast cancer can reoccur after remission, generally within 2 years. As with all other types of cancer, if it does not reoccur within 5 years, the individual is considered as being cured of the disease. However, there have been instances where Breast cancer has returned after 10 or even 20 years.  But in general, the more time that passes since the first remission, the less likely the Breast Cancer Survival Rates will lower.