Metastasis of breast cancer may not surface for many years after a person is first diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. Therefore, predicting the prognosis (the likely course of a disease) of metastatic breast cancer may require the medical team to look closely at factors such as the length time between initial diagnosis and metastasis, genetics, and more.
Prognosis
New breast cancer treatment is aimed at improving the survival rate and increasing the longevity of those who are diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. In fact, today it’s reported that some women with metastatic breast cancer are predicted to live 10 or more years after diagnosis.
What’s the prognosis?
Prognosis is considered the forecast or the likely course of a disease. In those that are incurable, the prognosis refers to how many years a person will survive once a diagnosis is made. The prognosis of metastatic breast cancer is different for each person who has breast cancer.
Prognosis depends primarily on how fast the cancer spreads throughout the body. Although there is no cure for metastatic breast cancer (also referred to as stage IV breast cancer) it is treatable. Treatment is aimed at slowing down the rate at which the cancer spreads in the body. Receiving proper treatment is one of the most important factors in the overall prognosis of metastatic breast cancer.
Stage 4 Survival Rates
To get a perspective on the difference in survival rates during different stages of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) the rate of survival after diagnosis is:
For those at stage 2 (the cancer is local or has spread only to local lymph nodes) there is an expected five-year survival rate of over 90%. For those at stage 3 (advanced breast cancer—the cancer has spread beyond the immediate region of the tumor and may have invaded nearby lymph nodes and muscles) there is an expected five-year survival rate of 72%. For stage 4 (metastasized cancer that has spread to distant organs or other body parts) there is an expected five-year survival rate of 22%.
Because the earlier stages of breast cancer have much longer survival rates, early detection and treatment are important.
Factors Influencing Metastatic Breast Cancer Prognosis
There are several factors that can impact the prognosis of metastatic breast cancer, these include:
AgeGeneral healthHormone receptors on cancer cellsThe type of tissue involvedThe number of tumors/extent of metastasisA person’s overall attitude and outlook on the prognosis
Encouraging Statistics on Prognosis of Metastatic Breast Cancer
In recent years, there have been some encouraging new statistics on the prognosis of metastatic breast cancer, these include:
The statistics on survival rates show that women with breast cancer live longer today than ever before. In the past decade, the survival rate has substantially increased, due to an improvement in early diagnosis and screening, as well as improved targeted treatment. Survival rates are higher for women in higher economic groupsThe stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis plays an impactful role in prognosis, the highest survival rate begins for those who are five years post-treatment.
Studies
A 2015 study was conducted in the Netherlands. It involved 815 study subjects with metastatic breast cancer were divided into three groups, including:
154 participants with de novo metastatic breast cancer (a condition that occurs when metastasis is diagnosed when the breast cancer is initially detected). 176 participants with a metastatic free interval of fewer than 24 months485 participants with a metastatic free interval of over 24 months
The study aimed to find out the prognostic impact of the various time intervals that a person had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer on the group’s overall survival rate.
The time between primary breast cancer diagnosis and development of cancer recurrence is reportedly a strong prognostic factor for survivors of breast cancer. The study authors concluded that the best prognosis was in those who had metastasis when first diagnosed with breast cancer and the worst prognosis was linked with those who developed metastasis after 24 months.
A Word From Verywell
Although there is no cure for metastatic breast cancer, it’s important to keep in mind that it is a treatable condition. Treatment options are aimed at slowing down the cancer’s rate of growth as much as possible, increasing the survival rate, as well as providing palliative care to support survivors, keeping them comfortable and free of side effects, for as long as possible.
Be sure to discuss any questions or concerns you have with your healthcare provider about your specific prognosis. Don’t forget that survival rates are not set in stone, everyone is different; the statistics do not apply to each individual. A lot depends on your overall outlook on life. This is a great time to get involved in a breast cancer survivor’s support group (if you have not already done so).
