What is the prognosis When breast cancer spreads to the bones? Some studies suggest that the average 1-year survival rate for people with metastatic bone cancer is 40–59%. However, the American Cancer Society states that people with distant breast cancer are 28% as likely to live for at least another 5 years as those without this condition.
How long can you live with metastatic breast cancer in bones? Other investigators reported that the median survival of patients with bone-only metastasis was 24-54 months. Many factors associated with overall prognosis at early breast cancer diagnosis retain prognostic significance for survival following the first diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer.
What Happens When breast cancer spreads to the bones? People with bone metastases are at risk of serious bone complications such as bone fractures (breaks), spinal cord compression and bone pain. Bone complications are a concern for people with bone metastases as they can cause pain and may lead to loss of mobility, impacting quality of life.
Can breast cancer bone metastases be cured? Bone metastases can’t be cured, but treatments can help: prevent or slow their progression. strengthen bones. provide relief for symptoms like bone pain.
What is the prognosis When breast cancer spreads to the bones? – Additional Questions
What stage is cancer when it spreads to the bones?
Low-grade cancers (G1) tend to grow and spread more slowly than high-grade (G2 or G3) cancers. Grade 1 (G1) means the cancer looks much like normal bone tissue. Grade 2 (G2) means the cancer looks more abnormal. Grade 3 (G3) means the cancer looks very abnormal.
Is bone cancer a death sentence?
All types of primary bone cancer
almost 75 out of 100 people (almost 75%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more. more than 50 out of 100 people (more than 50%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more.
What is the longest someone has lived with metastatic breast cancer?
She survived for 18 years after the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) while maintaining a good quality of life. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case in the literature with the longest overall survival in a patient with MBC.
What is the survival rate for bone metastases?
Lung cancer had the lowest 1-year survival rate after bone metastasis (10 percent). Breast cancer had the highest 1-year survival rate after bone metastasis (51 percent).
Survival rates of bone metastases.
| Type of cancer |
Percent of cases that metastasize after 5 years |
5-year survival rate after metastasis |
| GI |
3.2% |
3% |
Can metastatic bone cancer go into remission?
MBC may spread to the bones and cause pain and other symptoms. Although MBC may not vanish completely, a range of treatments can help manage the condition for a number of years, and many people can live long lives with MBC. The cancer may be active or go into remission.
Can metastatic cancer be cured completely?
In some situations, metastatic cancer can be cured, but most commonly, treatment does not cure the cancer. But doctors can treat it to slow its growth and reduce symptoms. It is possible to live for many months or years with certain types of cancer, even after the development of metastatic disease.
What are the final stages of metastatic breast cancer?
Most of the time, metastatic breast cancer affects the bones, lungs, brain, or liver.
Lung metastasis symptoms
- a dry cough that does not go away.
- trouble breathing or shortness of breath.
- wheezing.
- coughing up blood and mucus.
- pain in the chest or lung area.
How long does it take breast cancer to metastasize?
Each division takes about 1 to 2 months, so a detectable tumor has likely been growing in the body for 2 to 5 years. Generally speaking, the more cells divide, the bigger the tumor grows.
Can you live 30 years with metastatic breast cancer?
No one would say that living with metastatic breast cancer is easy. It can be treated, but it cannot be cured. However, many people with metastatic breast cancer can live long lives with excellent quality of life. More and more women and men are living with breast cancer as a chronic disease.
What causes death in metastatic breast cancer?
The most common cause of death was metastatic disease to various organs, accounting for 42% of all deaths. Infection was the second most common cause of death; however, only 27% of the patients with infection had significant neutropenia. In patients dying of hemorrhage, only 9% were thrombocytopenic.
Is metastatic cancer always Stage 4?
Stage 4 cancer is sometimes referred to as metastatic cancer, because it often means the cancer has spread from its origin to distant parts of the body. This stage may be diagnosed years after the initial cancer diagnosis and/or after the primary cancer has been treated or removed.
How long can a person live with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer?
While treatable, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) cannot be cured. The five-year survival rate for stage 4 breast cancer is 22 percent; median survival is three years. Annually, the disease takes 40,000 lives.
What is the last stage of breast cancer?
What is stage IV breast cancer? Stage IV is the most advanced stage of breast cancer. It has spread to nearby lymph nodes and to distant parts of the body beyond the breast. This means it possibly involves your organs — such as the lungs, liver, or brain — or your bones.
Which cancer has the lowest survival rate?
The cancers with the lowest five-year survival estimates are mesothelioma (7.2%), pancreatic cancer (7.3%) and brain cancer (12.8%). The highest five-year survival estimates are seen in patients with testicular cancer (97%), melanoma of skin (92.3%) and prostate cancer (88%).
Is Stage 4 breast cancer considered terminal?
Cancer cells might have traveled through your lymphatic system to your lungs, bones, liver, brain, or other organs. Stage 4 is the most serious and life threatening stage of breast cancer.
How long can you live with Stage 5 breast cancer?
5-year relative survival rates for breast cancer
| SEER Stage |
5-year Relative Survival Rate |
| Localized* |
99% |
| Regional |
86% |
| Distant |
29% |
| All SEER stages combined |
90% |
Where does breast cancer spread first?
The lymph nodes under your arm, inside your breast, and near your collarbone are among the first places breast cancer spreads.
