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Outlook for breast cancer

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What is the prognosis (outlook)?

The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure. The outlook has improved in recent years because of the routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70. More breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage.

In general, the more advanced the cancer (the more it has spread) then the less chance that treatment will be curative. Factors which influence the outlook include whether the cancer is hormone responsive, and the grade of the cancer cells.

The treatment of cancer is a developing area of medicine. New treatments continue to be developed and the information on outlook above is very general. The specialist who knows your case can give more accurate information about your particular outlook, and how well your type and stage of cancer is likely to respond to treatment.

Screening for breast cancer

Women in the UK aged between 50 and 70 are invited to have a routine mammography every three years. Mammography is a special x-ray test and aims to detect breast cancer at an early stage when treatment is most likely to be curative.

Genetic testing and mammography screening (and preventative treatments in some cases) may also be offered to younger women with a strong family history of breast cancer. See your doctor if you feel this applies to you.