|  | Cancer | Breast Cancer

Prognosis for an Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma

Infiltrating, or invasive, ductal carcinoma is the most common form of breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. It accounts for 8 out of 10 invasive breast cancers and prognosis of survival depends on several factors including location, whether it is hormone receptor-positive and stage. Survival rates are calculated at five years after initial therapy and presented as a percentage.

  1. Location

    • Cancers, like infiltrating ductal carcinoma, which have spread beyond the primary site, have a five-year survival rate of approximately 84 percent, per the New York Times. If the cancer spreads (metastasizes) to other sites, the five-year survival rate drops to 27 percent.

    Hormone Receptor

    • Some breast cancer cells have receptors for estrogen and progesterone--these cells are considered hormone receptor-positive. There is no exact percentage, but women with hormone receptor-positive cells have a better prognosis because those cells grow more slowly and there are more treatment options.

    Breast Cancer Stages

    • There are typically five stages of breast cancer, from 0 to IV. The higher the stage, the lower the chances of survival.

    Early Stages

    • Stages 0 and I both have a five-year survival rate in the 90s. Stage II A has survival rates in the 80s but then, Stage II B drops to the 60s.

    Later Stages

    • Stages IIIA and IIIB both have survival rates in the 40s. Stage IV, the final stage, only has survival rates at 14 percent.

Breast Cancer - Related Articles