Breast Cancer Survival Rates 2024
Survival rates offer a general idea of what percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive after a specific period, typically 5 years from diagnosis.
While these rates provide insight into how successful a treatment may be, they do not tell you exactly how long you will live. Instead, they give a broad understanding of the likelihood of positive outcomes.
It's important to remember that survival rates are only estimates based on data from large groups of people who had similar types of cancer. These statistics cannot predict individual results, as each person's situation is unique.
Because of this, survival rates can sometimes be confusing and may raise additional questions. It’s always best to discuss these numbers with your doctor, who knows your specific case and can explain how they might apply to your situation.
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What Are Cancer Survival Statistics?
A key part of making a prognosis is looking at survival rates. These rates are statistics collected over many years from people with the same type of cancer, based on large groups of patients. For breast cancer, there are two main types of measurements:
1. Breast Cancer Survival Rates: This shows the percentage of people who are alive 5 years or more after their diagnosis. The numbers come from patients diagnosed at least five years ago. Thanks to improvements in diagnosis and treatment, survival rates have been getting better, which means that people diagnosed today may have a more positive outlook.
2. Relative Survival Rates: This measures the percentage of cancer patients who live for a certain time after diagnosis, compared to people without cancer. It does not consider the cause of death, just how long cancer patients live in relation to the general population.
These statistics help provide a better view of the outlook for breast cancer patients.
Sources American Cancer Society PubMed CDC
Breast Cancer Survival Rates
The overall 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer is 91.2%. This means that approximately 91 out of every 100 people diagnosed with breast cancer are alive five years later.
For the 10-year mark, the relative survival rate is 84%, indicating that 84 out of 100 people are still living after a decade. Looking further ahead, the invasive 15-year relative survival rate is 80%, meaning that 80 out of 100 people are alive 15 years after their diagnosis.
Breast Cancer Survival Rate by Age
Here are the five-year relative survival rates for breast cancer based on age at diagnosis:
Women and Those Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB)
- Under 45: 88%
- Ages 45-54: 91%
- Ages 55-64: 91%
- Ages 65-74: 92%
- 75 and Older: 86%
Men and Those Assigned Male at Birth (AMAB)
- Under 50: 83.6%
- Ages 50-59: 83.9%
- Ages 60-69: 85.1%
- Ages 70-79: 85.9%
- 80 and Older: 84.5%
These percentages reflect the likelihood of being alive five years after a breast cancer diagnosis, varying by age and gender.
Sources American Cancer Society PubMed CDC
Breast Cancer Survival Rate by Stage
Breast cancer information often emphasizes women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB), but it's important to recognize that those assigned male at birth (AMAB) can also develop the disease. In fact, about 1 in 803 AMAB individuals will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.
The overall 5-year relative survival rate for those AFAB is 91.2%, meaning 91 out of 100 are alive five years after diagnosis. For those AMAB, the 5-year survival rate is 84%, or 84 out of 100.
Looking at the 10-year survival rates, 84% of people AFAB are alive after a decade, while 74% of those AMAB are still living. For the 15-year invasive breast cancer survival rate, 80% of those AFAB are alive after 15 years.
Survival rates for breast cancer vary based on the stage at diagnosis, using terms like localized, regional, and distant instead of numbers and letters.
- Localized Breast Cancer
This stage means the cancer is only in the breast and includes some cases of stage IA, IIA, and IIB.
- 5-Year Relative Survival Rate:
- AFAB: 99%
- AMAB: 95%
- Regional Breast Cancer
At this stage, cancer has spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes, including stage IB, some IIA, IIB, and all stage III cases.
- 5-Year Relative Survival Rate:
- AFAB: 86%
- AMAB: 85%
- Distant Breast Cancer
This stage indicates that cancer has spread to other parts of the body, corresponding to stage IV.
- 5-Year Relative Survival Rate:
- AFAB: 31%
- AMAB: 20%
These statistics highlight how survival rates differ based on cancer stage and the individual's assigned gender at birth.
Sources American Cancer Society PubMed CDC
Breast Cancer Survival Rates By Race
Over the past 40 years, the 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer has improved significantly for both Black and white women.
However, a notable racial gap still exists. Recently, the 5-year survival rate for Black women is 81%, compared to 92% for white women.
Among different racial and ethnic groups, Chinese and Japanese women have the highest survival rates for breast cancer, while Black women have the lowest survival rate.
Sources PubMed
Breast Cancer Survival Rates By Countries
Breast cancer survival rates vary significantly by country and are influenced by several factors:
1. Income
Higher-income countries generally have better survival rates than low- and middle-income countries. For instance, the 5-year survival rate is over 90% in high-income nations, while it is 66% in India and 40% in South Africa.
2. Region
Survival rates tend to be higher in regions such as North America, Australia, Japan, and parts of northern, western, and southern Europe.
3. Access to Treatment
Availability and access to treatments like chemotherapy can greatly impact survival rates. However, the cost and accessibility of these treatments can be limited in certain areas.
4. Stage of Detection
The stage at which breast cancer is detected plays a critical role in determining survival outcomes.
Survival Rates by Country
- United States: 90.2%
- Australia: 89.5%
- Japan: 89.4%
- Canada: 88.2%
- Denmark: 86.1%
- England: 85.6%
- France: 86.7%
- Germany: 86%
- Italy: 86%
- Netherlands: 86.6%
These figures illustrate the disparities in breast cancer survival based on various influencing factors.
Sources Common Wealth Fund WHO
Breast Cancer Treatment Delays
People from certain racial groups, particularly Black women, often experience longer waits for breast cancer treatment after diagnosis. Nearly one-third of Black women had to wait over a month for treatment, while fewer than 20% of white women faced similar delays.
Additionally, around 20% of Hispanic women and nearly 22% of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders also waited more than a month for treatment.
Economic Status and Its Impact
Individuals with lower incomes face higher mortality rates from breast cancer. They are less likely to receive regular health care, including essential mammograms that can detect cancer earlier. Other challenges for low-income individuals include:
- Limited access to education about breast cancer screening
- Living in underserved communities with less health care access
- Lack of medical insurance, making out-of-pocket costs unaffordable
- Difficulty taking time off work for medical appointments
- Managing other health issues that may distract from breast cancer concerns
These factors contribute to disparities in breast cancer outcomes among different socioeconomic groups.