The term cured is often thrown around a lot in the world of alternative medicine. However, cure is not a term you will hear often in the world of modern medical science. This is because it is difficult to “cure” illnesses; however, it is possible to “treat” them. 

While the two may seem synonymous, there’s a difference between them. Curing refers to completely treating an ailment and ensuring that a person is free from it with almost no chance of recurrence. However, as you can imagine, that’s generally not the case with illnesses. Even with a simple condition like flu, it is possible to treat the symptoms/condition and bring you back to optimal health, but due to various factors, you can again get the same condition. 

So, it is misleading when it is claimed that a condition can be cured. Thanks to the strides of research and tireless efforts of professionals, various conditions have become treatable better than before, and cancer ranks highly among them. As a condition, cancer was once considered untreatable, and it led to a significant mortality rate for anybody affected by the condition. 

Breast cancer still ranks as the type of cancer with the highest mortality rate among women. Thanks to various therapeutic and surgical treatment options, it is possible to treat breast cancer symptoms and put the condition into remission. However, it is not accurate to say that the condition is curable. Even though it may sound dreary, there’s hope.

To understand the ray of hope here, we need to understand breast cancer survival rates, the stages of the condition, and the various treatment options that are available today. It’ll help you understand the reality of breast cancer treatment and how it can help you manage the condition if diagnosed. It’ll also help you understand the importance and benefits of timely breast cancer screenings. So, let’s take a detailed look into the various stages and treatment options of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Stages, Treatments, And Survival Rates
 

Stage 0: DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Stage 0 breast cancer is the earliest stage of the disease, and it has the highest survival rate of any cancer stage. The Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) starts in the ducts of the breasts, but it does not spread to the other parts of the breast. A diagnosis at this stage is ideal for patients because it allows for thorough and effective treatment of breast cancer. DCIS diagnosis is possible with breast cancer screening tests like mammograms or with thorough physical examinations.

• Treatments: The treatment of breast cancer is highly personalised and based on various factors, including your overall health and underlying health condition. After thorough diagnosis, doctors can recommend either therapeutic treatment options like radiation therapy or hormone replacement therapy for stage 0 breast cancer. HRT treatment is recommended in cases where the cancer is suspected to be hormone receptor-positive. Surgical treatments are generally not recommended for early-stage cancer unless doctors are concerned about significant cancer spread. In case surgical removal of cancer cells is required, surgeries like lumpectomy or mastectomy are recommended.
   
• Survival Rate: Stage 0 breast cancer has an almost perfect 5-year survival rate for patients. This is mainly because the cancer is localised and non-invasive to other breast tissues.

Stage 1: Early Stage Breast Cancer (Invasive)

Stage 1 breast cancer is also characterised as early-stage breast cancer; in such cases, the tumour has formed and is expected to be less than 2cm in diameter. The spread of the cancer to the nearby lymph nodes is nonexistent or minor in some cases. Early-stage breast cancer can be diagnosed using screening tests or by using physical breast cancer examinations by patients themselves. Getting an early diagnosis at this stage makes it easier for patients to get appropriate treatment and significantly minimises the risk of recurrence. Here are some of the most commonly recommended treatment options for early-stage breast cancer.

• Treatments: There are various treatment options, both invasive (surgical) and non-invasive (therapeutic), that are available for early-stage breast cancer. The type of treatment recommended depends on the spread of the cancer, the symptoms it presents, and the overall health of the patient. Noninvasive treatments like targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy for certain types of breast cancer. Surgeries like lumpectomy and mastectomy are also recommended if the cancer is aggressive and is spreading to other parts of the breast. Therapeutic and surgical treatments are often used together to reduce the risk of recurrence.
   
• Survival Rate: The survival rate of early-stage breast cancer is near perfect at around 99% five-year survival rate. This value may change based on the individual case of the patient. Doctors will discuss the survival rate and the risks associated with the condition with you at the time of diagnosis.

Stage 2: Early Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

This stage of cancer is considered locally advanced as it can spread to surrounding lymph nodes in the body. Distant metastasis is not present at this stage; however, the tumour is expectantly larger than the first stage at two to five centimetres. Breast cancer can be symptomatic at this stage, with common symptoms like pain in the breast, discharge from nipples, or inflammation in the breast being common symptoms that can affect patients. Doctors can diagnose the tumour using biopsies based on the patient's symptoms, or it can also be discovered during a routine screening test. Here are some of the common treatment options recommended to patients with stage 2 breast cancer.

• Treatments: Combined treatment is required to treat stage 2 breast cancer and prevent its recurrence in most cases. The need for surgical treatment arises significantly for this type of cancer as it has a higher risk of spreading to nearby breast tissues and lymph nodes in your body. To prevent the risk of recurrence, doctors recommend surgical removal of the cancerous tumour as well as the use of chemotherapy and radiation therapy post-surgery. This type of treatment is highly effective in managing the condition and ensuring the patient is able to recover from cancer safely.
   
• Survival Rate: The five-year survival rate of second-stage breast cancer is still very high, at around 86 to 93%.

Stage 3: Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

Locally advanced breast cancer can be considered a serious stage of breast cancer as the tumour sizes grow to over 5 cm in these cases. There is no distant metastasis of cancer at this stage, but the cancer can potentially spread to up to nine nearby lymph nodes. This stage of cancer requires immediate treatment, with high chances doctors will recommend surgical treatment to manage the condition as soon as possible. This stage of cancer can be symptomatic, or it can also be diagnosed with screening tests. Doctors can recommend various treatment options based on the patient's underlying health condition. Here are some of the most commonly recommended treatment options for stage three breast cancer.

• Treatments: Surgical treatments like mastectomy and lumpectomy are commonly recommended to patients at this stage. Therapeutic and medicinal treatments commonly accompany surgery to ensure a complete remission of the condition and management of its recurrence risk. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are commonly used post-surgery to manage the risks of recurrence and ultimately put the condition in remission. Other treatments like hormonal replacement therapy are also used if the patient is at a high risk of hormone receptor-positive cancer. Targeted therapy is a relatively new treatment option that’s also recommended for patients with third-stage or locally advanced breast cancer.
   
• Survival Rate: Based on the underlying health condition of the patient and the presence of comorbidities, the survival rate can change for patients. Generally, stage three breast cancer is known to have a five-year survival rate of 72%.

Stage 4: Metastatic Breast Cancer

Metastatic breast cancer is the most complex stage of breast cancer as the cancer has spread to nearby organs alongside lymph nodes and other breast tissues. Metastatic breast cancer can spread to nearby organs, to the breasts like the lungs or the liver, to distant organs like bones or the brain. Metastatic breast cancer shows symptoms in most cases as the cancer starts affecting other body parts as well. Symptoms like nipple inversion and discharge from the nipples may appear at this stage. Upon diagnosis, immediate medical attention is required to ensure the condition can be managed properly as soon as possible. Thorough medical treatment may be required to manage this condition as several therapeutic treatments may be needed to manage the cancerous tumours in different parts of the body systemically. Here are some of the treatments commonly recommended to patients with stage four breast cancer.

• Treatments: Surgical treatment is not the first course of treatment recommended for patients with breast cancer. This is mainly because of metastasis, which leads to the cancer spreading to different body parts. Systemic treatments like radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone replacement therapy are recommended to patients. Palliative care is also offered to minimise the pain and discomfort associated with the cancer at this stage. Rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used to manage the spread of the condition as much as possible. Breast cancer treatment at this stage of cancer is very extensive and requires active medical support at all times to manage the condition effectively.
   
• Survival Rate: Due to metastasis, the survival rate of stage four breast cancer is lowest at 28%. It is also subject to change based on the age of the patient, their symptoms, comorbidities, and overall health condition.

Conclusion

Breast cancer can be treated with an early diagnosis, the condition can be put into remission, and the risk of recurrence can be managed, which essentially means curing the condition. So, make sure you get regular breast cancer screening tests and opt for self-evaluations regularly to notice any changes in your body and report them to your doctor as soon as possible. Vigilance and awareness regarding the risks of breast cancer can help patients improve medical outcomes and treat the condition effectively. 

For more information about breast cancer treatment, feel free to check out MASSH. Our experts can help you get a thorough diagnosis of your condition and offer highly specialised minimally invasive surgical treatments for breast cancer. At MASSH our world-class infrastructure and incredible team of experienced experts offer a safe surgical experience to patients with quick recovery and minimal risks. Check out our website or visit us today to learn more.