Breast Cancer Stages Life Expectancy

Breast cancer is the malignant proliferation of epithelial cells, lining the milk ducts or lobules of the breast. It is a heterogeneous disease, i.e. the cell productions within the tumor may vary in women as per their age groups. Up to the age of 30 years, there is one chance in 280 of developing breast cancer, the risk further increases to one in 70 for a woman aged 40 years and to one in 40 at age 50 years. A woman above 60 years of age has a one in 30 chance of acquiring breast cancer in coming 10 years. Person having a family history of both breast and ovarian cancer can also be at the risk of developing breast cancer. An period at an age of 11 or having late menopause and excessive exposure to radiations, are some causes that can lead to breast cancer in women.

Symptoms for Breast Cancer
The most significant sign of breast cancer is a lump or thickening of the breast and swollen lymph nodes in the underarm (axillary area). Though, not all breast lumps are cancerous, lumps found in the area above the collarbone (supraclavicle area) indicate that the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Following are some common signs of breast cancer:

• Change in color and texture of areola (dark pigmented area surrounding the nipple).
• Swelling and tenderness around the nipple or in the breast.
• Scaling or itching (called pruritus) on the nipple.
• Increase in the size of the breast.
• Sudden discharge form the nipples or pulling in of the nipples or other areas of the breast.
• Development of a breast lump and breast ulcer.

Read more on:

• Breast Cancer Diagnosis
• Signs of Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Stages and Prognosis
Breast cancer stages life expectancy generally depends on its stage and there are typically five stages (0 to 5) with sub-stages:

Stage	TNM	Description	5-year Survival
0	Tis N0 M0	Carcinoma in situ, i.e. in place, no tumor in the regional lymph nodes, no distant metastases	99%
I	T1 N0 M0	Tumor is less than or equal to 2 centimeters, no tumor in the regional lymph nodes, no distant metastases.	92%
IIA	T0 N1 M0 T1 N1 M0 T2 N0 M0	No evidence of primary tumor, metastases to movable ipsilateral nodes, no distant metastases. Tumor is less than or equal to 2 centimeters, metastases to movable ipsilateral nodes, no distant metastases. Tumor is between 2 and 5 centimeters, no tumor in the regional lymph nodes, no distant metastases	82%
IIB	T2 N1 M0 T3 N0 M0	Tumor is between 2 and 5 centimeters, metastases to movable ipsilateral nodes, no distant metastases. Tumor is over 5 centimeters, no tumor in the regional lymph nodes, no distant metastases.	65%
IIIA	T0 N2 M0 T1 N2 M0 T2 N2 M0 T3 N1, N2 M0	No evidence of primary tumor, metastases to fixed ipsilateral nodes, no distant metastases. Tumor is less than or equal to 2 centimeters, metastases to fixed ipsilateral nodes, no distant metastases. Tumor is between 2 and 5 centimeters, metastases to fixed ipsilateral nodes, no distant metastases. Tumor is over 5 centimeters, metastases to movable or fixed ipsilateral nodes, no distant metastases.	47%
IIIB	T4 Any N M0 Any T N3 M0	Tumor extends to chest wall, any nodal involvement, no distant metastases. Any primary tumor involvement, metastases to ipsilateral internal mammary nodes, no distant metastases.	44%
IV	Any T Any N M1	Any primary tumor involvement, any nodal involvement, distant metastases.	14%

T= Status of Primary tumor; N = Regional lymph nodes; M = Distant Metastases

Breast Cancer Stages and Treatment
Breast cancer treatment and it's possibility for cure, mainly depends on factors like location of the tumor, it's size and shape, rate of cell division, genetic factors, how far the tumor has spread, etc. The treatment primarily involves surgery, followed by radiation, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy. The surgery involves removal of the lump and the lymph nodes in the armpits. During the chemotherapy, medicines that intervene with the growth of cancer cells and divisions are given to the patient. High dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation has also been used to improve the response rates. Hormonal therapy or radiation, involving X-rays or high energy rays are applied to stop or slow down the growth of cancerous cells in the body. Recurrences of breast cancer normally occur within 5 years of treatment. However, the studies have shown that 25% of recurrences and half of new cancers in the opposite breast usually occur after 5 years. Read more on breast cancer radiation side effects.

Breast cancer research shows that the 5-year survival rate for women detected with breast cancer is nearly 80% and approximately 88% of women detected with breast cancer do live longer for next 10 years. Unfortunately, women in lower social and economic groups still have statistically less survival rates, than women in higher groups. However, the estimated increase in the breast cancer stages life expectancy per woman, screened during screening detection of breast cancers on an average, has been modest.