Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPrognosisStage 4 Survival RatesFactors Influencing PrognosisStudiesNext in Metastatic Breast Cancer Guide GuideComplications of Metastatic (Stage 4) Breast Cancer
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Prognosis
Stage 4 Survival Rates
Factors Influencing Prognosis
Studies
Next in Metastatic Breast Cancer Guide Guide
It is estimated that 155,000 women (and men) in the United States currently havemetastatic breast cancer, which means that the cancer has spread to the bones, liver, lungs, brain, or other parts of the body.
Approximately 22% of those diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer survive up to five years, but the average survival rate is only three years.Nearly 40,000 people die each year as a result of metastasis of breast cancer, and there are many more who live with advanced disease.Survival rates vary, but there are some general statistics that predict which groups are likely to have a better prognosis.
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.
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New breast cancer treatment is aimed at improving the survival rate and increasing the longevity of those who are diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.
Of the women with breast cancer in the United States, it’s estimated that nearly 34% have been living with metastatic breast cancer for at least five years.
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.
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:
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:
Of course, no factors can accurately predict the exact prognosis for a person with metastatic breast cancer. These statistics are based on many clinical research studies, looking at survival rates for people diagnosed with breast cancer at all stages. But the prognosis of each person is different, regardless of what the statistics indicate.
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:
A 2015 study was conducted in the Netherlands. It involved 815 study subjects with metastatic breast cancer were divided into three groups, including:
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 variable and case-dependent, 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 abreast cancer survivor’s support group(if you have not already done so).
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for breast cancerIrvin W, Muss HB, Mayer DK.Symptom management in metastatic breast cancer.Oncologist. 2011;16(9):1203-14. doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0159Shukla A, Alsarraj J, Hunter K.Understanding susceptibility to breast cancer metastasis: the genetic approach.Breast Cancer Manag. 2014;3(2):165-172. doi:10.2217/bmt.14.1Mariotto AB, Etzioni R, Hurlbert M, PenberthyL, Mayer M.Estimation of the number of women living with metastatic breast cancer in the United States.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2017; 26(6):809-815. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-16-0889Khanfir A, Lahiani F, Bouzguenda R, Ayedi I, Daoud J, Frikha M.Prognostic factors and survival in metastatic breast cancer: A single institution experience.Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. 2013;18(3):127–132. Published 2013 Feb 14. doi:10.1016/j.rpor.2013.01.001Printz C.Scientists estimate number of U.S. women living with metastatic breast cancer: New data collection and interpretation activities will help advance treatment efforts.Cancer. 2017 Aug 15;123(16):2995-2996. doi:10.1002/cncr.30886.The National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat tacts: Female breast cancer.Lobbezoo DJ, Van kampen RJ, Voogd AC, et al.Prognosis of metastatic breast cancer: are there differences between patients with de novo and recurrent metastatic breast cancer?.Br J Cancer.2015;112(9):1445-51. doi:10.1038/bjc.2015.127
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for breast cancerIrvin W, Muss HB, Mayer DK.Symptom management in metastatic breast cancer.Oncologist. 2011;16(9):1203-14. doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0159Shukla A, Alsarraj J, Hunter K.Understanding susceptibility to breast cancer metastasis: the genetic approach.Breast Cancer Manag. 2014;3(2):165-172. doi:10.2217/bmt.14.1Mariotto AB, Etzioni R, Hurlbert M, PenberthyL, Mayer M.Estimation of the number of women living with metastatic breast cancer in the United States.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2017; 26(6):809-815. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-16-0889Khanfir A, Lahiani F, Bouzguenda R, Ayedi I, Daoud J, Frikha M.Prognostic factors and survival in metastatic breast cancer: A single institution experience.Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. 2013;18(3):127–132. Published 2013 Feb 14. doi:10.1016/j.rpor.2013.01.001Printz C.Scientists estimate number of U.S. women living with metastatic breast cancer: New data collection and interpretation activities will help advance treatment efforts.Cancer. 2017 Aug 15;123(16):2995-2996. doi:10.1002/cncr.30886.The National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat tacts: Female breast cancer.Lobbezoo DJ, Van kampen RJ, Voogd AC, et al.Prognosis of metastatic breast cancer: are there differences between patients with de novo and recurrent metastatic breast cancer?.Br J Cancer.2015;112(9):1445-51. doi:10.1038/bjc.2015.127
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for breast cancerIrvin W, Muss HB, Mayer DK.Symptom management in metastatic breast cancer.Oncologist. 2011;16(9):1203-14. doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0159Shukla A, Alsarraj J, Hunter K.Understanding susceptibility to breast cancer metastasis: the genetic approach.Breast Cancer Manag. 2014;3(2):165-172. doi:10.2217/bmt.14.1Mariotto AB, Etzioni R, Hurlbert M, PenberthyL, Mayer M.Estimation of the number of women living with metastatic breast cancer in the United States.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2017; 26(6):809-815. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-16-0889Khanfir A, Lahiani F, Bouzguenda R, Ayedi I, Daoud J, Frikha M.Prognostic factors and survival in metastatic breast cancer: A single institution experience.Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. 2013;18(3):127–132. Published 2013 Feb 14. doi:10.1016/j.rpor.2013.01.001Printz C.Scientists estimate number of U.S. women living with metastatic breast cancer: New data collection and interpretation activities will help advance treatment efforts.Cancer. 2017 Aug 15;123(16):2995-2996. doi:10.1002/cncr.30886.The National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat tacts: Female breast cancer.Lobbezoo DJ, Van kampen RJ, Voogd AC, et al.Prognosis of metastatic breast cancer: are there differences between patients with de novo and recurrent metastatic breast cancer?.Br J Cancer.2015;112(9):1445-51. doi:10.1038/bjc.2015.127
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for breast cancer
Irvin W, Muss HB, Mayer DK.Symptom management in metastatic breast cancer.Oncologist. 2011;16(9):1203-14. doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0159
Shukla A, Alsarraj J, Hunter K.Understanding susceptibility to breast cancer metastasis: the genetic approach.Breast Cancer Manag. 2014;3(2):165-172. doi:10.2217/bmt.14.1
Mariotto AB, Etzioni R, Hurlbert M, PenberthyL, Mayer M.Estimation of the number of women living with metastatic breast cancer in the United States.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2017; 26(6):809-815. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-16-0889
Khanfir A, Lahiani F, Bouzguenda R, Ayedi I, Daoud J, Frikha M.Prognostic factors and survival in metastatic breast cancer: A single institution experience.Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. 2013;18(3):127–132. Published 2013 Feb 14. doi:10.1016/j.rpor.2013.01.001
Printz C.Scientists estimate number of U.S. women living with metastatic breast cancer: New data collection and interpretation activities will help advance treatment efforts.Cancer. 2017 Aug 15;123(16):2995-2996. doi:10.1002/cncr.30886.
The National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat tacts: Female breast cancer.
Lobbezoo DJ, Van kampen RJ, Voogd AC, et al.Prognosis of metastatic breast cancer: are there differences between patients with de novo and recurrent metastatic breast cancer?.Br J Cancer.2015;112(9):1445-51. doi:10.1038/bjc.2015.127
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