Breast cancer, as with other types of cancer, is characterized by different stages that describe the spread of the cancer. Stage I is the least invasive cancer, with stage IV the most invasive. Stage IV cancer has spread beyond the breast to other tissues and organs, including the liver, lungs, brain, bones or lymph nodes in the chest or above the collarbone. Survival rates worsen with high stages, although advances have improved stage IV survival rates.
Survival Rates
In 2010, the National Breast Cancer foundation quotes the following breast cancer five year survival rates by stage: Stage 0: 100 percent; Stage I: 98 percent; Stage II: 88 percent; Stage IIIA: 56 percent; Stage IIIB: 49 percent; Stage IV: 16 percent.
Description
Several factors comprise the staging system, including the tumor size, designated as T; N, which indicates spread to lymph nodes, and M, which indicates whether or not a tumor has metastasized. In Stage IV cancer, the size of the tumor and lymph node spread isn't relevant. The determining factor of this stage is that the cancer has metastasized.
Significance
Five year survival rates for stage IV breast cancer do not separate out the people who die from causes other than breast cancer. Breast cancer survival has improved since 1979, when survival rates were about 10 percent, the California Breast Cancer Research Program reports. However, once breast cancer has metastasized, it's no longer considered curable and is likely to lead to the person's death at some point, the same site states.
Considerations
While between 1 and 3 percent of those with stage IV breast cancer have their disease stabilize or go into remission, most people find treatment can no longer stop the disease spread once metastasis occurs, according to the California Breast Cancer Research Program. A person with stage IV breast cancer must decide, in conjunction with her physician, how to proceed from this point. Aggressive treatment rarely prolongs life and may make the person's remaining time very uncomfortable, but some want everything possible done even with low odds of improvement.
Treatment
Many with stage IV breast cancer choose palliative treatment for their remaining time. Palliative treatments try to make the person as comfortable as possible and improve quality of life when breast cancer can't be cured. This may involve chemotherapy or radiation to shrink tumors so they don't press on tissues and nerves or to decrease bone pain.
