Breast cancer: how long do they live after surgery and what are the statistics. Survival statistics for breast cancer of all types Breast cancer stages and survival

Every woman needs to be examined annually by a mammologist to prevent the development of cancer in the mammary glands. After all, only at the initial stage can cancer be successfully cured. Today it is no longer a secret to anyone that the earlier a woman’s tumor is detected, the greater the chances of a long life expectancy. Early detection increases breast cancer survival rate by up to 90%.

Statistics are such that age becomes critical after 35 years, when X-ray procedures should become mandatory and permanent, at least once a year. After all, only under such conditions will it be possible to prevent the development of cancer and take radical measures to eradicate the tumor in full.

Not only in women, but also in men, breast cancer is not uncommon due to a number of negative factors: poor environment, bad habits, employment in hazardous chemical production.

Of course, women of childbearing age, during lactation during pregnancy, as well as older women during menopause due to hormonal imbalance are most at risk of getting a tumor. However, the chances of survival for a 10-year period are high if the tumor is immobile and is not yet growing or metastasizing. Of no small importance is the place of its localization, shape, size, and the effectiveness of timely prescribed therapy.

The most amenable to treatment and without further relapses is a tumor at stages 1-2 of development. But at stages 3-4, treating breast cancer becomes problematic. If at stages 0-1 doctors give a prognosis for survival in almost 90% of cases, then already at stages 3-4 - no more than 10%, mortality from cancer is high for 2 years.

Survival at each stage

It all depends on the size of the tumor and the degree of invasion into nearby organs and tissues. The oncological process is 4 stages and the prognosis at each stage is different:

At stage 1, when the tumor reaches no more than 2 cm in size and does not spread, the survival rate is almost 100%.
At stage 2, with a tumor size of 4-5 cm, but without spreading to the lymph nodes or with only slight penetration of cells deep into the tumor, you can count on a favorable cure and survival for 5 years in 80% of cases.
At stage 3, when the malignant tumor reaches more than 5 cm in size and the lymph nodes are affected by malignant cells and grow inside the mammary glands, the survival rate for 5 years does not exceed 40%
At stage 4, when the neoplasm reaches quite impressive sizes and metastasizes to various organs and tissues under the skin in the lungs and liver, the 5-year survival rate does not exceed 10%.

If we talk about the 10-year survival rate, then:

at stage 1 it is 60%;
at stage 2 – 40-60%;
at stage 3 -30%;
at stage 4 – no more than 5%.

When making a prognosis for breast cancer, it is worth taking into account the number of existing metastases in the lymph nodes or their absence (presence) in regional nodes. Survival over 5 years reaches 70% if there are no metastases, and no more than 30% if 2-3 lymph nodes are affected within 10 years.

So, the 10-year survival rate at stage 1 is 60%, at stage 2 - 40%, at stage 3 - 30%, at stage 4 - 5%.

If the diagnosis is established

Of course, the prognosis is positive if the patient is diagnosed with initial cancer at stage 0-1, when the tumor is still in one place, does not grow and remains in a motionless state for some time. At this moment, it poses virtually no threat to nearby organs and is quickly eradicated through surgery.

But this is a rare case, since women have no symptoms in the initial stages. They begin to consult doctors when all the signs are present and the growth of the tumor causes severe physical and psychological suffering. But, unfortunately, a complete cure is no longer possible.

And if women also refuse surgery or courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, then the 5-year survival rate decreases to 35%, although cases of achieving stable remission have still been recorded.

Timely and correct treatment measures taken by doctors have a great influence on survival rates. It is important for women to strictly follow all the appointments and instructions of the oncologist. Adjust your diet, daily routine, and under no circumstances refuse doctors’ offers for radiation and chemotherapy.

Only a good quality of life and effective treatment can prevent mortality and create favorable conditions for long-term survival. But under no circumstances should you resort to self-medication and alternative medicine methods. Unsuccessful attempts can be costly and time will be irretrievably lost.

Only qualified oncologists will be able to select effective methods of treatment for breast cancer, taking into account the tests obtained, the age and general health of the women, the degree of spread of the tumor and the presence of metastases. The forecast is directly affected by:

location of the tumor in the mammary glands;
dimensions;
form;
degree of growth into regional nodes;
tumor growth rate;
patient's age;
chosen treatment method.

If we talk about survival, it is important in which quadrant of the mammary gland the tumor is located, since the speed of the course and the direction in which the metastases begin to grow will directly depend on this factor. A favorable outcome will be if the tumor is localized in the outer quadrant of the mammary gland and one can fully count on a complete cure.

If a tumor is detected at an early stage and located in the outer quadrant of the breast, even in the case of regional metastasis at the initial stage, surgery or radical treatment is quite effective. In this case, the survival rate for breast cancer is at least 95%, and treatment can prolong the patient’s life to at least 10-15 years.

Informative video

oncologypro.ru

Breast cancer survival statistics

When a woman is diagnosed with a tumor in the mammary glands, the first thing that worries her is the type of tumor and the stage of the disease, if the tumor is malignant, because the lower the stage, the higher the chances of further survival. Often, if the disease was detected in its initial stages, then there is a 95% chance that a complete cure will occur.

How long can you live with breast cancer?

Among all diseases associated with malignant tumors, breast cancer occupies a leading place among women. Statistics on breast cancer indicate that more than one and a half million women a year suffer from this disease, 400 thousand of whom end in death. If the progression of education cannot be stopped, then the mortality rate already in the first year is 10%.

Breast cancer survival statistics take the five-year mark at which a woman has lived for a given time period after diagnosis of the disease. About 50% of patients who received specialized care in professional institutions on time live five or more years after the onset of education. If treatment for breast cancer was not carried out, then the five-year survival rate in this case does not exceed 15%.

Survival from breast cancer is influenced by a large number of factors. The favorable one is considered to be a special hormonal sensitivity to the formation (the upper layer of malignant tissues has receptors for estrogen and progesterone), and the presence of the tumor marker Her2neu is considered detrimental (the formation has increased aggressiveness).

Breast cancer survival by disease stage

Any illness associated with malignant tumors is divided into 4 stages. The more it has spread, the less likely the patient is to survive:

Stage 1. In this case, the size of the formation does not exceed 2 cm, and the malignant tissue has not spread to the adjacent areas of the mammary glands (axillary and peri-thoracic lymph nodes). The survival rate within the five-year mark is 70-95%.
Stage 2. The size of the tumor varies within 5 cm, and the malignant tissue has managed to affect the lymph nodes. It is possible that at stage 2 the tumor will not exceed 2 cm, but malignant cells will already be present in 3-5 lymph nodes. At this stage, the five-year survival rate is 50-80%.
Stage 3. The tumor exceeds 5 cm in size, cancer cells affect the lymph nodes, and sometimes appear in the mammary glands. Under such circumstances, the five-year survival rate does not exceed 50%.
Stage 4. The tumor has an arbitrary size. The process of metastasis of other organs (bones, skin, liver, etc.) begins, and the five-year survival rate fluctuates around 10%.

If we take into account a longer survival period, for example, a ten-year mark, then the figure will be slightly different:

The first stage is about 80%. The second stage is from 40 to 60%. The third stage is within 30%. Stage four – less than 5%.

With professional methods of diagnostic process and treatment, victims from breast cancer in the country are not decreasing, since the disease is detected at later stages, when there are visible symptoms. This is due to the fact that people do not carry out preventive diagnostics of the body.

The older a woman is, the higher the likelihood of developing the disease. Often, breast cancer cells begin to grow in women who have crossed the 40-year mark or peaked between the ages of 60 and 70. The highest mortality rate occurs at 75-85 years of age.

It has been noted that in countries with good economies, mortality rates from breast cancer are 85 cases per 100 thousand people. At the same time, third world countries have the lowest statistics - about 20 episodes per 100 thousand citizens. Russia occupies a middle position.

Chances of survival after diagnosis

Patients with breast cancer in the first stage have the best chance. This is the so-called standing tumor. It does not threaten anything and is not growing anywhere, but this is a temporary phenomenon. However, such a finding is determined by chance during general diagnostics, since at the first stage the woman does not feel any visible symptoms with which she could complain to a doctor.

The most severe cases, which are practically untreatable, are the third and fourth stages. As a rule, in such cases the treatment is very difficult and brings a lot of physical suffering. Subsequently, the person independently refuses treatment so as not to endure pain after chemotherapy. But according to five-year survival standards, there is still a chance - 35%. Cases of complete remission have also been recorded.

Each patient has the opportunity to influence the above figures. Timely intervention by professionals and combined courses of treatment can significantly increase the chances of survival and influence complete relief from the disease.

The best option is a combination of surgical procedures, radiation and chemotherapy. Only full compliance with the recommendations of specialists, daily routine and special diets will help prolong life and increase its quality. If you have cancer, you should not engage in self-medication and alternative medicine, because with unsuccessful attempts, which prevail in statistics, the patient loses valuable time. If you want to help using these methods, you should discuss this with your oncologist.

Breast cancer stage 2: life expectancy, nutrition and treatment of the second stage

There are 4 stages of breast cancer, and the higher the degree, the more harm the tumor causes to the body. The second stage is an early form of oncology, in which the tumor size does not exceed 5 centimeters and only the axillary lymph nodes are involved in the process. They do not solder to each other and do not grow together with nearby tissues. Adhesion is inflammation of the tissue around the neoplasm, indicating the transition of the disease to the next stage.

There are two stages:

2a: the tumor size is a maximum of 2 centimeters, the lymph nodes in the armpit are enlarged.
2b: the size of the neoplasm is within 2-5 centimeters, the lymph nodes of the axillary area are enlarged.

Causes, development mechanism and symptoms of the disease

Scientists still cannot name the exact causes of a malignant breast tumor. Only the risk factors are known for sure. However, many women at risk do not develop the disease. At the same time, breast cancer often occurs in individuals who do not have a single risk factor.

One of the main risk factors is age over 50 years and genetic predisposition. During menopause, hormonal changes occur. The amount of estrogen increases and the level of progesterone decreases, as a result of which the synthesis of abnormal cells increases, which can lead to the formation of a tumor in the breast.

In women whose close relatives had or have a malignant pathology, the risk of getting sick increases by 2-3 times. Studies have shown that 2 genes are behind the incidence of “familial” cancer - BRCA1 and BRCA2. Every two hundred women carry them. But even the presence of one of these genes in the body does not always lead to the development of the disease. In addition, women with benign tumors in the breast tissue or those who have had genital cancer have a high risk of getting sick.

The risk of developing cancer is increased in people with early onset of menstruation, absence of children under 30 years of age, late onset of menopause (after 50 years of age), and persistent menstrual irregularities. In addition, the use of hormonal contraceptives can lead to breast cancer. The next risk factor is excess body weight. It has been proven that chronic overeating increases the likelihood of getting sick. Exhaustive diet and alcohol consumption can also cause the disease.

The mechanism of breast cancer development is largely associated with damage to DNA cells, as a result of which normal cells become oncogenes that stimulate the growth of other pathologically altered cells.

In this case, growth factors stimulate the synthesis of cancer cells. But for a malignant tumor to form, only increased production of these factors is not enough. The nucleus of each cell contains specific proteins that can regulate this process. Any changes in gene structure lead to suppression of the synthesis of these proteins and, as a result, the formation of tumors.

Symptoms of stage 2 cancer:

the presence of a painful lump in the mammary gland up to 5 centimeters in size;
changes in the structure of the skin of the breast;
feeling of fullness in the chest tissue;
retraction or change in the shape of the nipple;
nipple discharge;
enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit.

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Methods of diagnosis and therapy

To diagnose stage 2 breast cancer, physical, instrumental, laboratory and histological methods are used. The physical method consists of questioning, inspection and palpation. In this case, a mammologist can determine the presence of painful lumps in the mammary glands. Laboratory tests include a blood test for the presence of tumor markers.

Instrumental methods include mammography, ultrasound examination of the breast and MRI. Mammography is an x-ray of breast tissue in two projections. In the second stage of cancer, shadows with a diameter of up to 5 centimeters will be visible in the image.

Ultrasound helps to study the structure of the tumor in detail. In addition, for stage 2 tumors, an ultrasound scan of the abdominal cavity and chest is performed. MRI is the most expensive, but also the most reliable instrumental diagnostic method. With the help of magnetic resonance imaging, you can see the smallest tumors, their borders and edges.

Once a tumor is detected, a biopsy is performed. This is the study of neoplasm cells under a microscope.

To carry it out, special instruments are used to pinch off a piece of pathologically altered tissue. A biopsy helps determine whether the growth is benign or malignant.

Treatment of malignant neoplasms is aimed at getting rid of the tumor and destroying tumor cells. Stage 2a cancer is treated using the following methods:

Surgical treatment. A mastectomy or radical sectoral removal of the mammary gland is performed. A mastectomy is the cutting out of a breast affected by a tumor. In addition, lymph nodes that are located in the sternum area can be removed. Radical breast resection allows you to save part of the mammary gland, but relapses may occur. Therefore, after organ-conserving surgery, radiation treatment is performed. Due to surgical intervention, loss of sensitivity in the incision area is possible. Over time it recovers.
Radiation therapy is used to suppress the production of cancer cells after tumor resection. Radiation treatment before surgery can reduce the malignancy of the tumor.

For stage 2 cancer, when the diameter of the tumor exceeds 2 centimeters, additional chemotherapy is performed. It blocks the spread of metastases and often helps to downgrade the stage of the disease. The course of treatment is 2 weeks per month.

Alternative treatment involves the use of the following means:

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Outcome of the disease, nutritional habits, prevention of occurrence

The prognosis of the disease and survival in grade 2 depends on the size of the tumor, the speed of its growth and the age of the patient. If the size of the tumor does not exceed 2 centimeters, the prognosis is favorable. The five-year survival rate is 90%. At the same time, life expectancy may often not differ from normal.

With a tumor size of up to 5 centimeters and the presence of metastases in the lymph nodes, the prognosis is slightly worse. The five-year survival rate is approximately 60%. However, the prognosis and survival in this case are significantly influenced by correctly selected and administered therapy, thanks to which life expectancy can be tens of years more.

For stage 2 cancer, diet is essential. Nutrition should be complete and balanced, providing the body with all the necessary substances. In addition, to ensure the best absorption of food, meals should be fractional. You should eat food in small portions 5-6 times a day. The diet for a malignant disease includes compliance with the drinking regime. You need to drink at least 2 liters of fluid daily.

All products must be fresh and as natural as possible.

You should not eat food from fast food restaurants and processed foods. Meals should not include fried foods. After learning their diagnosis, some patients lose their appetite and practically stop eating. This is wrong and only makes things worse, since during illness the body needs nutrients more than under normal conditions. A diet high in vegetables and fruits provides the body with the necessary amount of protein and vitamins.

Prevention of breast tumors includes:

regular mammography after the age of 40;
independent palpation of the mammary gland;
timely treatment of genital diseases;
maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

To summarize, it is worth saying that stage 2 breast cancer is a completely curable disease. By following your doctor's recommendations and using additional folk remedies, you can regain your health and normal quality of life.

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How long do you live with breast cancer?

Every year the number of people suffering from cancer is growing. In women, breast cancer occupies a leading position. Everyone knows about the insidiousness and danger to life of this disease. It is not surprising that when such a diagnosis is made, both the patient and her family are primarily concerned about how long they can live with this disease. So what determines breast cancer survival?

Factors influencing survival

The prognosis for breast cancer depends on a number of factors:

Number of lymph nodes affected by metastases. The more lymph nodes affected by cancer cells, the worse the prognosis of the disease and the higher the likelihood of relapse. If the lymph nodes are not affected, the ten-year survival rate is 75%, otherwise it is no more than 25%. If no more than three lymph nodes are affected, the ten-year survival rate is about 35%, but if there are more than four, this figure is no higher than 15%.
Tumor size. The larger the formation becomes, the more its aggressiveness increases and the faster the process of metastasis occurs.
Location of education.
The degree of tumor invasion by lymphatic and blood vessels.
Form of the disease.
The value of DNA synthesis activity indicators.
Presence of metastases.
Treatment methods.
The intensity of division of altered cells (level of nuclear antigen Ki-67, level of nuclear protein mitosin, and so on).
Indicators of the level of inhibitors (blockers) and activators of plasminogen (a protein that takes part in processes occurring in the cell: metastasis and invasion, etc.).

The survival prognosis for breast cancer is much more favorable if the formation is hormonally sensitive to drugs (there are receptors for progesterone and estrogen on the surface of malignant cells).

The presence of such factors has a negative impact on breast cancer survival:

The patient has the Her2neu tumor marker, indicating a highly aggressive tumor. It is found in 20-30% of patients.
Age up to 35 years.

Prognosis depending on tumor location

The location of the formation in the breast tissue affects the prognosis of the disease, since the distribution and direction of metastases, as well as the rate of their growth, depend on this.

The most favorable prognosis is observed for formations located in the outer quadrants of the mammary gland, since they can be detected at an early stage. In addition, such localization allows the use of surgical intervention.

If the tumor is located in the medial and central areas of the breast, the prognosis is unfavorable, since such formations have a high rate of metastasis.

Cancer survival by stage

It is customary to distinguish five stages of breast cancer development, depending on the size of the tumor and the degree of involvement of the lymph nodes. The five-year prognosis of the disease is directly dependent on the stage of the disease.

Stage 0-1. The size of the tumor does not exceed two centimeters, and there are no cancer cells in the lymph nodes. Survival rate in this case is 70-95%.
Stage 2. The tumor has a size of two to five centimeters, the lymph nodes are not affected, or the size of the formation is no more than two centimeters, but there are cancer cells in 4-5 lymph nodes. Survival rate at this stage is 50-80%.
Stage 3. The tumor grows more than five centimeters, the lymph nodes are affected by cancer cells. Survival rate in this case is 10-50%.
Stage 4. Education can be of any size. There are separated metastases. Survival rate – 0-10%

Static data on the ten-year survival rate of breast cancer patients indicate that for patients at stage 0-1 it is 60-80%, at stage 2 - 40-60%, at stage 3 - 0-30%, at stage 4 - 0-5%.

Survival depending on the form of the disease

Breast cancer can have two forms:

Nodular, which can be limited and locally infiltrative.
Diffuse. It can be edematous, lymphangitic and diffuse-infiltrative.

With infiltrative type formations, the prognosis of the disease is worse than in other cases. Most often, this form of cancer is diagnosed in young women and very rarely in elderly patients. Inflammatory forms of the disease (erysipelas, armored and mastitis-like cancer) have the most unfavorable prognosis, which is explained by the extreme aggressiveness of these forms of the disease and their high level of resistance to any therapy, therefore the survival rate of patients in the early stages of the disease is about 3 years, in the later stages – from 4 to 16 months.

Cancer survival without treatment

Some women refuse traditional treatment, preferring to focus their efforts on finding some alternative measures to combat the disease. Without adequate therapy, the five-year survival rate does not exceed 12-15%.

Treatment

The prognosis for breast cancer is much more favorable with comprehensive treatment. The main method for this is surgery. Good results are shown by the subsequent use of chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation and immune therapy.

Prognosis for relapse

Relapse of the disease is the appearance of cancer symptoms after treatment. After a few months or years, cancer processes begin to develop again. They can be at the site of the primary tumor, and in other parts of the breast, and in another mammary gland, as well as in other organs. A recurrent course is most typical for a poorly differentiated form of the disease; relapses often occur with invasive ductal cancer, since it causes the formation of metastases in the axillary lymph nodes. Experts note that with tumors larger than 5 centimeters, relapses are observed 5-6 times more often than with tumors of a smaller size.

Survival for relapse of the disease is determined by the methods of therapy used and ranges from 1 to 2 years. Moreover, if the process is limited to the mammary gland, the patient’s chances are much higher than if metastases occur in other organs of the body.

As follows from statistics, the earlier the diagnosis was made, the more favorable the prognosis of the disease. That is why all women should take care of their health and not neglect preventive measures. To do this, you need to do a mammogram, ultrasound of the breast and conduct a self-examination every month. Breast cancer, for all its danger, is the most studied form of cancer, and the survival rate in the early stages of this disease is quite high.

vashmammolog.ru

2018 Blog about women's health.

Not only in women, but also in men, breast cancer is not uncommon due to a number of negative factors: poor environment, bad habits, employment in hazardous chemical production.

The most amenable to treatment and without further relapses is a tumor at stages 1-2 of development. But at stages 3-4, treating breast cancer becomes problematic. If at stages 0-1 doctors give a prognosis for survival in almost 90% of cases, then at stages 3-4 - no more than 10%, the mortality rate from cancer is high for 2 years.

Survival at each stage

It all depends on the size of the tumor and the degree of invasion into nearby organs and tissues. The oncological process is 4 stages and the prognosis at each stage is different:

At stage 1, when the tumor reaches no more than 2 cm in size and does not spread, the survival rate is almost 100%.
At stage 2, with a tumor size of 4-5 cm, but without spreading to the lymph nodes or with only slight penetration of cells deep into the tumor, you can count on a favorable cure and survival for 5 years in 80% of cases.
At stage 3, when the malignant tumor reaches more than 5 cm in size and the lymph nodes are affected by malignant cells and grow inside the mammary glands, the survival rate for 5 years does not exceed 40%
At stage 4, when the neoplasm reaches quite impressive sizes and metastasizes to various organs and tissues under the skin in the lungs and liver, the 5-year survival rate does not exceed 10%.

If we talk about the 10-year survival rate, then:

at stage 1 it is 60%;
at stage 2 – 40-60%;
at stage 3 -30%;
at stage 4 – no more than 5%.

So, the 10-year survival rate at stage 1 is 60%, at stage 2 - 40%, at stage 3 - 30%, at stage 4 - 5%.

If the diagnosis is established

And if women also refuse surgery or courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, then the 5-year survival rate decreases to 35%, although cases of achieving stable remission have still been recorded.

Timely and correct treatment measures taken by doctors have a great influence on survival rates. It is important for women to strictly follow all the appointments and instructions of the oncologist. Adjust your diet, daily routine, and under no circumstances refuse doctors’ offers for radiation and chemotherapy.

location of the tumor in the mammary glands;
dimensions;
form;
degree of growth into regional nodes;
tumor growth rate;
patient's age;
chosen treatment method.

If we talk about survival, it is important in which quadrant of the mammary gland the tumor is located, since the speed of the course and the direction in which the metastases begin to grow will directly depend on this factor. A favorable outcome will be if the tumor is localized in the outer quadrant of the mammary gland and one can fully count on a complete cure.

Informative video

Breast cancer is a malignant lesion of breast tissue. The female mammary gland is made up of glands called lobules. They perform the function of transferring milk through thin tubes - channels from which milk flows from the lobules to the nipple. Breast tissue also contains fat, connective tissue, lymphatic connections, arterial and venous vessels.

The most common types of breast cancer are breast carcinoma, which begins in the ductal cells, and focal carcinoma, which develops from the breast lobules. In addition, there are more than 18 other subtypes of malignant breast lesions, the life expectancy of which is sharply reduced if treated incorrectly or untimely.

Stage of breast cancer

To determine the specifics of the course of cancer, the World TNM system is used:

T indicates the size of the malignancy;
N - spread of the atypical process to the lymph nodes or to the area under the armpits;
M – metastasis of the neoplasm to other organs located far from the primary lesion.

What determines life expectancy with breast cancer?

Doctors often use the terminology “five-year survival rate” or “ten-year survival rate.” But that doesn't mean patients won't live longer. As with other types of cancer, life expectancy for breast cancer depends on the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis and its metastasis to other organs.

Attention should also be paid to factors such as the level of atypical cells in the body (class of malignant lesion) and the presence of cancer receptors for specific types of drugs.

General forecast

Life expectancy for breast cancer is presented by the following statistics:

about 95% of every 100 survive a year or more after diagnosis;
Almost 90% of every 100 survive 5 years after diagnosis;
approximately 80 women out of every 100 will live 10 years or more;
about 65% of 100 will be able to live for 20 years.

It is necessary to pay attention that he is prone to relapse. Most likely this can happen within the first 2 years. However, we should not forget that the disease can return even after 10 or 20 years after the initial diagnosis.

Modern observations by scientists indicate that over the past 20 years, the number of women dying from breast cancer has decreased significantly.

Breast Cancer Assessment

Examination of cancer involves conducting a histological analysis to identify the specifics of cancer cells, stage and type of oncological process.

For breast cancer, 3 subtypes of the course of the disease have been defined:

First class (low).
Second class (intermediate).
Third class (high).

This differentiation is important because higher grade cancers grow faster and are more likely to spread.

Life expectancy depending on stage

First stage

When the disease is diagnosed at the first stage, the 5-year rate ranges from 100% to 99% depending on the size of the tumor.

Second stage

Stage 2A: tumor up to 2 cm in size with observation of cancer cells in the nearest lymph nodes (T0, N1, M0). Possible spread to one lymph node or cancer has invaded 0.1 cm of adjacent tissue (T1, N1, M0). Also, at this stage, sometimes the tumor grows more than 2 cm or more (but up to 5 cm). However, cancer does not affect the lymph nodes (T2,N0,M0).

The five-year survival rate for stage 2A becomes 81%.

Stage 2B: the tumor is more than 2 cm, but less than 5, and is involved in nearby lymph nodes (T2, N1, M0). Also, breast cancer at this stage can reach more than 5 cm, but has not spread to the chest or any lymph nodes (T3, N0, M0).

The survival rate for stage 2B patients reaches 74% within 5 years of first diagnosis.

Third stage

Stage 3A: may be in the lymph nodes or axillary region without detection in the mammary gland (T0, N2, M0).

The tumor may be 2 cm in diameter or less with slight invasion of breast tissue or lymph nodes in the axilla or breast (T1, N2, M0).

The mass is defined as 2 to 5 cm and detected in the lymph nodes or nodes of the armpit (T2, N2, M0). Also, breast cancer can be larger than 5 cm but not affect the breast skin or breast muscle cells. But cancer is found in areas under the arm or lymphatic connections, as well as the breast (T3, N2, M0).

Stage 3B: there is a cancerous formation of any size that affects the skin of the breast or mammary gland, but without involving the muscles of the organ (T4, N0, M0).

With the above diagnosis, survival depends on the individual health status of the person, age, hormonal status, etc. On average, a five-year life expectancy for stage three breast cancer becomes:

stage 3A - 67%;
stage 3B - 41%;
Stage 3C – 49%.

Fourth stage

This stage of the disease means that breast cancer has spread to lymph nodes near the arm or to distant sites such as the lungs, liver, brain or bones.

Among all women with stage 4, approximately 20% will be alive 5 years after diagnosis. About 50% of patients remain alive after 18 months.

In addition to the not entirely comforting statistics, it should be taken into account that therapeutic methods have improved significantly in recent years. That's why breast cancer - life expectancy is constantly increasing.

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among women and the third most common cause of cancer death overall for both sexes. Among all deaths in oncology, this is 17% among women and 7% including men. But the answer to the question of how long people live with breast cancer will vary from country to country.

Breast cancer - statistics

In Russia, as well as in the CIS countries as a whole, the overall survival rate for breast cancer, taking into account all stages, does not exceed 57%. This is much less than in Europe (80%) and even less than in Israel (87%). In Russia, one woman dies from breast cancer every hour.

The main reason for low survival rate for breast cancer in the CIS is late detection. In 40-47% of cases, malignant breast tumors are detected at stages III-IV. The second reason, although at the 8th International Conference on Breast Cancer in St. Petersburg it was indicated as the main one, is the low quality of treatment for this disease, despite the enormous successes of Western countries in this direction. Even if the disease is detected early, a woman with breast cancer may not receive adequate treatment.

Interesting fact: in the 1980s, the mortality rate from breast cancer in Russia was one of the lowest in Europe. The standardized mortality rate from breast cancer among 15 European countries was 1.5 times higher than in Russia. However, there is not much confidence in the statistics of the USSR.

At the end of the 20th and first decades of the 21st century, with the increase in the incidence of breast cancer throughout the world, mortality from it in highly developed countries steadily decreased, while in Russia it increased irresistibly. Today, mortality from breast cancer among young women in Russia does not differ significantly from European indicators, but in the age group from 45 to 74 years, mortality from breast cancer in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine continues to remain high and even grow, although at a slower pace.

How long do people live with breast cancer at various stages?

Today no one asks the question “can breast cancer be cured?” In modern oncology, this is one of the most studied and successful diseases, and breast cancer at all stages is treated. With adequate treatment, a tumor detected at stage 0 or I is no more dangerous than inflammation of appendicitis or severe pneumonia. But when metastases appear, the chances of recovery drop, although they do not disappear completely.

Breast cancer can also be cured at stage IV. It is necessary to approach diagnosis and treatment correctly, take into account all the individual characteristics of the tumor, determine not only its histological type and stage, but also genetic and immunochemical development factors, and carry out treatment taking into account all these influences.

The life expectancy of patients with metastatic breast cancer directly depends on the quality of treatment. If in Russia the average life expectancy of women with breast cancer metastases is on average 2-4 years, then in Israel it is 11 years.

Breast cancer survival rates (indicators for the USA, Israel, Europe)

Stage	Five-year survival rate	Ten-year survival rate





At all stages

These data are based on the previous treatment results of a large number of people, but they cannot accurately predict what will happen to an individual. The answer to the question “how long do they live with breast cancer” will always be idealized. The outcome of treatment can be influenced by many factors, such as age, general health, quality of treatment, the presence of hormonal receptors, and individual response to treatment. A more favorable prognosis for hormone-dependent tumors in patients over 50 years of age. Young women are typically diagnosed with aggressive types of breast cancer with a hereditary predisposition.

Triple-negative breast cancer is a particular problem. Is it possible to cure this type of cancer? Can. But in this case, it is necessary to use radical and the latest treatment technologies - intraoperative irradiation, immunotherapy, bone marrow transplantation. It is important to remember that breast cancer is curable at any stage, and you should always fight.

Are you expecting to die from breast cancer? Debunking myths

Are you expecting breast cancer in the next 10 years? This question plagues many women. The latest public opinion poll showed that 98% of women exaggerate this danger. Here are some of the myths that circulate among us.

Killer #1

Breast cancer is the No. 1 killer of women. Not true. Women are 8 times more likely to die from cardiovascular diseases. In fact, breast cancer deaths rank sixth, just behind deaths from pneumonia and influenza.
Among women under 45 years of age, mortality is higher from AIDS and accidents than from breast cancer. However, the fear of losing one breast and becoming less sexy has made breast cancer the most dangerous disease for young women. At the same time, these same women who were terrified of mastectomy (breast amputation) continue to smoke, not use seat belts in cars, and engage in unsafe sex.

Cancer deaths are rising

Death rates from breast cancer continue to rise. Not true. Compared to the forties, the number of breast cancer cases has increased sharply, but mortality has remained at the same level. At the same time, there is a tendency even to reduce deaths. Between 1988 and 1992, for example, mortality fell by 5%, the lowest level since 1950. Why is the mortality rate stable while the number of new diseases has increased? This happens thanks to medical advances. Significantly more women are getting mammograms, which leads to early detection of the disease while it is still treatable. In addition, thanks to modern methods of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, doctors were able to stop the progressive disease.

Chance of getting cancer

I have a one in eight chance that I could get breast cancer right now.

Not true. You have this chance throughout your life. Understanding this is very important because many women mistakenly think that during every doctor's visit they will be diagnosed with breast cancer. What does this 1:8 ratio actually mean? Breast cancer is a disease mainly of older women. For your risk of getting the disease to become, for example, 1:9, you need to live to at least 85 years of age. By this age, many may die for completely different reasons and from other ailments.

Breast cancer is not hereditary

None of my relatives have had breast cancer, so I can rest easy.

Wrong. Most often, the risk of developing breast cancer is not inherited. Apart from age, doctors still do not know the reasons why cancer cells suddenly begin to grow uncontrollably in the mammary glands.

Only 5 - 10% of breast cancer patients were found to have a hereditary gene called BRCA1. These women have a higher risk than others of developing the disease at an earlier age (usually before menopause), and there is a risk of cancer affecting many women of different generations in the same family. Women who inherit this gene have an 85% risk of developing breast cancer, and more than half will develop the disease before age 50. In addition, their risk of ovarian cancer increases dramatically.

In addition to BRCA1, another hereditary gene has also been discovered - BRCA2, from which, according to experts, another 35% suffer.

Predisposition to cancer

Genetic predisposition to breast cancer occurs only on the maternal side.

Wrong. Susceptibility to breast cancer can be inherited on both the maternal and paternal side. Since the presence of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes does not manifest itself in men, women may not be aware of the possible danger of inheriting this disease. But fathers who have these gene changes are 50% capable of passing them on to their children. In cases where genes are inherited from a father, the daughter's risk of developing breast cancer increases if the disease was common in his female relatives. However, if the father has no sisters, the risk is reduced.

Risk factors

I have many risk factors, so I may get breast cancer.

Wrong. Research shows that most women with known risk factors do not get breast cancer. Moreover, many women with breast cancer have no risk factors other than age. The following are known risk factors:

Medical history of relatives. When female relatives (both maternal and paternal) have had the disease, women are at increased risk of inheriting cancer. The risk increases even more if relatives fell ill before the onset of menopause or when both breasts were affected.

Personal medical history. The risk of the disease increases if a woman has previously had other breast diseases, accompanied by the growth of normal breast cells or atypical hyperplasia - an increase in the number of structural elements of breast tissue due to their excessive formation (benign tumor).

History of reproduction. Late menopause (after 55 years) increases susceptibility to the disease. The conditions of the disease are aggravated if the first child appeared after 30 years or if there is no child at all. These reproductive risks lead to changes in sex hormones that affect breast tissue.

Alcohol consumption. Well-known Harvard epidemiologist Dr. Walter Willett, MD, a leading expert in this field, notes: “Evidence shows that a small daily intake of alcohol is small, but increases the risk of disease. And the more a woman drinks alcohol, the more the risk increases.” Numerous studies show that alcohol increases the level of estrogen in the blood, which affects the development of breast cancer.

Treatment by replenishing estrogen. The risk increases slightly as a woman ages, but some studies show that previous treatment is not associated with a higher risk of the disease. And long-term replenishment of estrogen has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and bones.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes

There is nothing that can be done if I have the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Wrong. When research has shown that a woman has these genes, steps can be taken to reduce the risk. One of the preventive measures is a monthly self-examination of your mammary glands; once every six months you should contact a gynecologist or oncologist to determine the disease at the earliest stage.

It is possible to perform a prophylactic double mastectomy (amputation of both breasts), but many doctors are now against this method. In addition to the fact that the patient experiences powerful emotional trauma, amputation does not provide a 100 percent guarantee that the cancer cells remaining in the tissue will not begin to grow.