Learn The BasicsThe prognosis, or likely outcome of breast cancer, is usually positive, especially if the cancer has been caught early, with almost all patients with stage 1 breast cancer living for five years or more after their diagnosis.
However, there are many factors affecting prognosis, the disease stage being a major one. Other prognostic factors include the type of breast cancer and the age and race of the patient.
Breast cancer prognosis by cancer stage
Breast cancer can be classified into different stages based on the size of the tumor and whether it has spread. According to this, stage 1 is the earliest stage where the cancer is small and only localized in the breast tissue, while stage 4 is the most advanced stage in which the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver or brain.
The five-year survival rate of patients with stage 1 breast cancer is almost 100%, while that of patients with stage 2 breast cancer is 90%, meaning that 90% of women diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer are still alive 5 years after their diagnosis.
As the disease progresses, the prognosis generally worsens. The five-year survival rate of patients diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer is over 70%, while patients with stage 4 have a 32% five-year survival rate.
Breast cancer prognosis by type
There are four main types of breast cancer, classified based on the receptor proteins that are found on the surface of cancer cells. The main proteins are human epidermal growth factor-receptor 2 (HER2) and hormone receptors such as estrogen and progesterone receptors.
These four main breast cancer types are hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative, hormone receptor-negative/HER2-negative, hormone receptor-negative/HER2-positive and hormone receptor-positive/HER2-positive.
The five-year survival rate of patients with hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer is the highest at 95.6%. This is followed by hormone receptor-negative/HER2-positive breast cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of 91.8%.
The five-year survival rates of hormone receptor-negative/HER2-positive breast cancer and hormone receptor-negative/HER2-negative breast cancer are lower, at 86.5% and 78.4%, respectively.
Breast cancer prognosis by age
The prognosis also varies by age. Patients who are younger than age 45 at the time of diagnosis have a five-year survival rate of 88%, compared to those who are diagnosed between ages 45 to 64, whose five-year survival rate is 91%.
The five-year survival rate of patients ages 65 to 74 at the time of diagnosis is even higher, at 92%.
However, as the patients get older, the five-year survival rate also decreases, with those diagnosed over the age of 75 having an 86% rate.
Breast cancer prognosis by race
The prognosis of breast cancer is usually worse among Black women compared to other races.
Black women are also less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer in the early stages. The reasons for this could include socioeconomic factors that may cause Black women to have less access to quality healthcare.
According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate of Black women with breast cancer is 84%. This is followed by Hispanic and Native women, whose five-year survival rate is 88%.
The five-year survival rate of Asian American and Pacific Islander women is 92%, and for White women, it’s 93%.