Breast cancer survival rate.

When one talks of breast cancer and breast cancer treatment, the secondary question is its survival rate. Survival rates give patients an idea of the extent of their cancer as well as the treatments that are available for them. We often hear of five-year survival rates for each stage of breast cancer. But what exactly is breast cancer survival rate?

Breast cancer survival can be described in the following ways:

- Period of time (5 or 10 years) that a woman lives after diagnosis

- Risk of recurrence

- Risk of death when compared to others with the same illness

The first example is the more popular method. Since the survival rate is commonly categorized according to stages, let us discuss some points on the stages of breast cancer first.

Stages

Stage 0 cancer is the non-invasive type. Cancer cells remain within the walls of the place where they are discovered. For Stage I, tumor is invasive and is about 2 centimeters long. Stage IIA cancer means that tumor is 2-5 centimeters. With Stage IIB cancer, tumor may be less than 2 centimeters but a few axillary lymph nodes are affected. For Stage IIIA cancer, tumor is longer than 5 centimeters or it has reached more lymph nodes. Stage IIIB cancer is characterized by tumor invading the breast skin, regardless of its size. Stage IV cancer is the most advanced form, where cancer cells have moved far from the breast and has infected other organs of the body as well.

Stages are also described as early, later and advanced. Stages 0-IIA are considered early, Stage IIB and III are later stages, and Stage IV is advanced stage.

When diagnosed with breast cancer, take note of the stages, as these will determine the treatment plan.