| reast cancer survival rate for Stage 3 breast cancer | | | | Almost 40,000 women die of breast cancer every |
| depends on the degree of cancer metastasis and the | | | | year in the United States alone. Using early detection |
| individual health of the patient. The 5-year survival rate | | | | procedures to detect breast cancer when it is still at |
| can vary from 49% to 67%. | | | | Stage 1 could bring the survival rate back up to almost |
| Stage 3 (or III) breast cancer is usually divided into two | | | | 100%. |
| categories: Stage IIIA and Stage IIIB. | | | | Early detection procedures emphasize monthly |
| Stage IIIA is breast cancer that is larger than 5 | | | | self-examinations done at the same time each month. |
| centimeters in diameter and has spread to the lymph | | | | Clinical examinations performed by the health care |
| nodes under the arm (axillary lymph nodes). It can also | | | | provider should begin no later than age 20. For women |
| include any size of breast cancer that has spread | | | | in good health, a clinical exam should be performed |
| extensively to any of the lymph nodes. | | | | every three years from age 20 to age 40. After age |
| The breast cancer survival rate for Stage IIIA breast | | | | 40, clinical breast exams should be part of the annual |
| cancer will vary from 56% to 67% (American Cancer | | | | health check-up, along with the annual mammogram or |
| Society). | | | | recommended diagnostic procedures. |
| Stage IIIB can be any size cancer that has spread to | | | | After successful treatment, approximately 10% of |
| other tissue near the breast. It may or may not have | | | | women will experience breast cancer recurrence. You |
| spread to the axillary lymph nodes or other lymph | | | | can learn about research on three healthy habits that |
| nodes. | | | | have shown a 50% decrease in breast cancer |
| The survival rate for Stage IIIB breast cancer varies | | | | recurrence at |
| from 49% to 54%. | | | | Breast cancer prevention is also an area of serious |
| The sharp decrease in women’s survival from | | | | research, but there is not yet sufficient information for |
| almost 100% survival for Stage 1 breast cancer to | | | | researchers to agree on conclusions. In general, being |
| approximately 50% survival for Stage 3 breast cancer | | | | overweight, increased alcohol consumption, or using |
| is controlled by one factor only: early detection. | | | | hormone therapy seem to increase breast cancer. |
| Treatment is most successful for women when the | | | | Maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, and |
| breast cancer is small and localized to the breast | | | | breast-feeding seem to decrease breast cancer. |
| tissue only. | | | | |