Breast Cancer Survival Rate - Stage 4 Breast Cancer

The breast cancer survival rate for Stage 4 breast cancer is much lower than for breast cancer detected at earlier stages.

Stage 4 breast cancer, or developed breast cancer, has metastasized to other tissue including bone tissue, lung tissue, or the liver. When breast cancer has overwhelmed the body's natural defenses and spread this far by the time the cancer is first diagnosed, the 5-year survival rate drops to 16%-20% in the United States (American Cancer Society).

Breast Cancer

Up to 5% of white women in the U.S., and up to 9% of black women have developed breast cancer spread to distant tissue at the time of first prognosis (Seer). This dissimilarity is usually attributed to poverty and lack of health insurance.

Breast Cancer Survival Rate - Stage 4 Breast Cancer

In general, women who have developed breast cancer at the time of prognosis live almost 18 months after prognosis (median survival rate). Those who are still alive five years after their prognosis of developed breast cancer can live an further 3.5 years (median survival rate) agreeing to the American Cancer Society.

Since this is the most deadly kind of breast cancer, it is leading to work intimately with all the health care providers. New treatments are being developed all the time, and second, or even third opinions may give the inpatient more information about newly discovered victorious solutions.

Early detection is clearly the most leading factor in breast cancer survival rates. Breast cancer detected at Stage 1 while it is still localized to the breast has a survival rate of 98%-100%, while metastasized breast cancer first detected at Stage 4 drops down to 16%-20%.

Early detection procedures must include monthly self-examinations done at the same time each month. From age 20-40, salutary women should have clinical breast exams performed by their health care providers every three years. After age 40, the breast exams should be annually and should include a mammogram or similar procedure.

North American white women have the highest rates of breast cancer in the world, but the 5-year survival rate for all stages (Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, and Stage 4) combined is 88% for the U.S. A recent study found European countries have lower 5-year breast cancer survival rates, with England at 77.8% and Ireland at 76.2% (Lancet Oncology).

The dissimilarity in these survival rates is usually attributed to life-saving early detection.

Breast Cancer Survival Rate - Stage 4 Breast Cancer