women s health issues
Breast Cancer
Prognosis for Breast Cancer
Generally, a woman's prognosis depends on How large the cancer is What type of cancer it is Whether it has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs (See also the National Cancer Institute'sSurveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program.) The number and location of lymph nodes that contain cancer cells is one of the main factors that determine whether the cancer can be cured and, if not, how long women will live. The5-year survival ratefor breast cancer (the percentage of women who are alive 5 years after diagnosis) is 99% if the cancer remains at its original site (localized) 86% if the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes but no further (regional) 29% if the cancer has spread to distant sites (metastasized) 58% if a full evaluation has not been done and the cancer has not been staged Women with breast cancer tend to have a worse prognosis if they have any of the following: Diagnosis of breast cancer during their 20s and 30s Larger tumors Cancer that has rapidly dividing cells, such as tumors that do not have well-defined borders or cancer that is dispersed throughout the breast Tumors that do not haveestrogenorprogesteronereceptors Tumors that have too many HER2 receptors ABRCA1gene mutation In the United States, women who are non-Hispanic Black have higher rates of death from breast cancer than women who are non-Hispanic White. Having theBRCA2gene mutation probably does not make the current cancer result in a worse outcome. However, having eitherBRCAgene mutation increases the risk of developing a second breast cancer. 