The most common cancer in the UK and the second most common worldwide, breast cancer can affect anyone, as we all have breast tissue. Survival rates have risen in recent decades thanks to incredible research, but breast cancer is still not always curable, particularly if it spreads. We know that if a loved one has been diagnosed you might be wondering how curable it is - in this article we explore the evidence, as well as how researchers are helping more people survive a diagnosis.
Is breast cancer curable?
There isn't a straightforward answer to this question, because there are many types of breast cancer, and some of them are more aggressive and harder to treat than others. Every patients' body is different, and we don't all respond in the same way to the same cancer treatments.
But the good news is that if breast cancer is found and treated early, it is often curable. In England, 3 in 4 women diagnosed with breast cancer are predicted to survive for 10 years or more. Thanks to international cancer research, remarkable progress has been made since the 1970s when the 10-year survival rate was just 42%.
This means that, for most people diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, their cancer can be eliminated through treatment and there will be no evidence of the disease in their body. But unfortunately, some types of breast cancer still remain much harder to treat - and all breast cancers remain harder to cure once the disease has metastasised, or spread around the body.
Breast cancer cure rates by stage:
Like other types of cancer, breast cancer is described by medical professionals by a series of stages - defined by the size of the cancer, the number of lymph nodes affected, and whether there is any spread to the rest of the body. The more breast cancer progresses, the harder it is to cure.
Please be aware that we are not medical professionals and cannot offer medical advice. If you, or a loved one, has had a breast cancer diagnosis, your doctor will confirm the stage and answer any questions you may have.
Stage 1
Almost 100% of women with stage 1 breast cancer will survive their diagnosis for five years or more.
Stage 2
90% of women with stage 2 breast cancer will survive their diagnosis for five years or more.
Stage 3
70% of women with stage 3 breast cancer will survive their diagnosis for five years or more.
Stage 4
Stage 4 breast cancer is also called secondary breast cancer, which means that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Over 25% of women with stage 4 breast cancer will survive their diagnosis for five years or more. More research is urgently needed to improve survival rates for secondary breast cancer.
Since breast cancer is easier to cure if it is detected and treated early, screening programmes play a crucial role in finding cancers that may be too small to see or feel. Checking your breasts regularly for any signs of cancer can also help catch cancer early, making it easier to treat.
What else influences how curable breast cancer is?
There are several factors that influence how curable breast cancer is. These include:
- Type of breast cancer. Certain types, including triple negative breast cancer, are harder to treat.
- Hormone receptor status. The hormones oestrogen and progesterone are produced in our bodies, but some breast cancer cells also need these hormones to grow. These cancer cells have something called 'hormone receptors' and knowing the hormone receptor status of your cancer helps doctors give you the best treatment.
- Overall health. The fitter your are, the better your body may cope with cancer and treatment. Diet, exercise, alcohol intake and weight can all affect survival rate.
- Genetics. Research indicates that certain genes may influence survival rates in breast cancer patients. Better understanding of this could help lead to new cures.
- Age. The older you are, the more likely you are to develop breast cancer, and most breast cancers are diagnosed in people older than 55. But, very sadly, people younger than 35 tend to be diagnosed with more aggressive breast cancers with a higher risk of their cancer returning.
What treatments lead to a cure?
The treatment received for breast cancer depends on the size, location, and stage of the cancer. The most common treatment for breast cancer is surgery. There are a few different options, including a mastectomy (where the breast is removed), lumpectomy (where a portion of breast tissue is removed), or surgery to remove lymph nodes from the armpits. Every patient is different, and your surgeon may recommend a particular operation, or give you a choice.
Breast cancer can also be treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted treatments. A combination of these treatments is sometimes the best way to cure breast cancer.
Some people are offered risk-reducing breast surgery, where an operation is carried out as a preventative measure to reduce the risk of breast cancer developing. If you have a strong family history or have had a positive test for certain genes linked to an increased risk, your doctor may discuss this as an option.
How is research changing what curable means?
As a cancer research charity, Worldwide Cancer Research wants to reach a day when no life is cut short by cancer. There is still so much we don't understand about breast cancer - particularly how it spreads, and why treatments don't work for all patients. More research is needed to discover kinder, more effective cures for the millions of people diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide every single year.
Thanks to Curestarters like you, researchers around the world are working to make all breast cancers more curable.
Dr Aura Carreira
Thinks there are many different BRCA2 mutations that cause breast cancer to develop in different ways. Working to discover more about this to create ways of detecting cancer or targeting it with new treatments.
Professor Johanna Ivaska
Currently investigating whether healthy cells hold the key to preventing breast cancer spreading, and hoping to find new ways to treat secondary breast cancer.
Dr Cathy Tournier
15-20% of breast cancers are a type called HER2, which are very good at becoming resistant to treatment. Dr Tournier has found a way to stop this resistance, which could soon lead to clinical trials for a new cure.
We are deeply grateful to all the Curestarters who have generously supported Worldwide Cancer Research. Without your donations, our important research into breast cancer would not be possible. Thank you for helping us make a stand against such a devastating disease.
Your breast cancer FAQs:
Is breast cancer curable?
Breast cancer is often curable, especially if found early, and survival rates have risen impressively over the last few decades. Now, in England, 75% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are predicted to survive ten years of more. The earlier breast cancer is detected and treated, the easier it is to cure.
Can stage 4 breast cancer ever be cured?
Stage 4 breast cancer, also called secondary breast cancer, is when breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This makes it much harder to cure. Currently, over 25% of women with stage 4 breast cancer will survive their diagnosis for five years or more. More research is needed to understand how breast cancer spreads and how to stop it, so more people can survive secondary breast cancer.
What treatments can cure breast cancer?
The most common treatment for breast cancer is surgery. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy are also options for some patients. A combination of treatments is sometimes the best option - radiotherapy after surgery can lower the chance of cancer returning, for example.
Does breast cancer ever come back after treatment?
Most breast cancers do not come back after treatment, but unfortunately it can sometimes come back months or even years later. This is called recurrence. If you are worried about any symptoms you think could be breast cancer recurrence it is important that you speak to your doctor as soon as possible.
How is research helping to cure more cases of breast cancer?
Research is helping to answer some of the questions we don't understand about breast cancer, so that more people can be cured. Thanks to you, Curestarter researchers around the world are finding more ways to help more people survive a breast cancer diagnosis.
Aggressive types of breast cancer are particularly challenging, so Dr Greta Varchi hopes to find a way to improve treatment for triple negative breast cancer, and another problem is when breast cancer spreads, so Professor Neta Erez is exploring how breast cancer spreads to the bones and how to stop it.
Donate today to start new cures
Be part of the united effort to stop lives being cut short by cancer.