Clinically, the main stages of breast cancer are Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV, and the treatment of breast cancer is often different for different stages.
- Stage I: simplified radical surgery with preservation of the pectoralis major muscle, or total mastectomy with partial axillary lymph node dissection, surgery plus radiotherapy.
- Stage II: radical or simplified radical mastectomy with postoperative chemotherapy and, if appropriate, radiotherapy.
- Stage III: Radical breast cancer surgery with additional chemotherapy and radiotherapy before and after surgery.
- Stage IV: Surgery is generally not considered and aggressive combination therapy is used. However, individual patients with better general condition may be considered for resection of the primary site or total mastectomy in order to improve the quality of life.
If detected early, if the cancer has not spread, if the surgery is successful, and if the treatment is appropriate, the patient will usually live 8 to 10 years. According to the Center for Cancer Control, the overall 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is about 70%, which means that about 70% of breast cancer patients are essentially lifelong recurrence-free and have a good overall outcome.