Which factors have a positive influence on survival rate and life expectancy?
The positive factors include small tumors below 2 cm, which show only a low degree of degeneration (G1) in grading. A low degree of degeneration means that the tumor cells are still very similar to normal mammary gland tissue. From this it can be deduced that early detection of breast cancer can also have a positive effect on the survival rate, also because lymph nodes are usually not yet affected.
This means that the tumor has not yet affected the lymph vessels in the breast and is therefore still localized. In this context, it also has a positive effect on the survival rate if the tumor has not yet penetrated any vessels. In terms of receptor status, a positive constellation is when the tumor is hormone receptor positive and HER2 receptor negative.
In the case of hormone receptor positive tumors, hormone therapy can be used in addition to chemotherapy. The age of the patient is also important. Positive is an age of more than 35 years at the beginning of the disease.
What factors negatively affect survival rate and life expectancy?
The most important prognostic factor, also in terms of survival rate, is the lymph node status in the armpit. If tumor cells are found in these lymph nodes, this is considered a negative factor. A large tumor at the time of diagnosis is also considered a negative factor, as is G3 grading.
G3 in this context means that the tumor cells are already very different from the original tissue in terms of differentiation and tend to be more malignant. In addition, different receptors on the tumor play an important role. Negative is when the tumor has no hormone receptors, but HER2 receptors do.Until now, the presence of HER2 receptors has been considered a negative factor, although specific antibodies (trastuzumab) against this receptor can be given for this type, which have a very good effect.
The occurrence of local recurrences, i.e. tumor foci on the chest wall or in the armpit, for example, has a negative effect on the survival rate. In recurrences after breast removal in the armpit, the 5-year survival rate drops to 50-55%. If recurrences occur simultaneously in different places, the 5-year survival rate is about 21%.
Furthermore, it is decisive whether the recurrences occur in less than two years or more than two years after the first therapy. So-called early recurrences (after less than two years) are often more difficult to treat and have a higher risk of further recurrences and metastases. This naturally affects the survival rate. This topic might also be of interest to you:
- Lymph node involvement in breast cancer
- End-stage breast cancer
