Breast cancer statistics

Each person's cancer diagnosis is as distinct as the person it affects. Part of our promise to you and your family is to offer clear information and comprehensive treatment options, all based on each patient’s individual needs.

Many cancer patients consider length of life and quality of life to be two of the most important statistics for breast cancer care, and value a treatment experience that is as convenient and stress-free as possible. We are committed to educating patients and their families and providing our breast cancer results to help patients make informed treatment decisions.

At City of Hope, we understand that you may want to see information regarding the survival results of patients with distant (also referred to as metastatic) breast cancer who were diagnosed at and/or at least initially partly treated at our hospitals to help you and your family decide where to go for treatment, as part of many other factors you may be considering. Therefore, we asked an independent biostatistician to analyze the survival results of City of Hope patients.

Statistical methodology and limitations
Qualifications of the independent researchers

Survival rates for breast cancer

The chart below reflects the City of Hope and SEER survival rates for breast cancer patients with distant (metastatic) disease who were diagnosed between 2000 and 2015. It includes estimates of the percentage of breast cancer patients with distant disease who survived for six months to five years after the initial diagnosis, as recorded in the City of Hope and SEER databases.

• This analysis included breast cancer patients from City of Hope who had primary tumor sites (as coded by ICD-O-2 (1973+)) from C500 to C509, were diagnosed from 2000 to 2015 (including 2000 and 2015) and received at least part of their initial course of treatment at City of Hope. All patients included in the analysis were considered analytic patients by City of Hope.
• Breast cancer patients with distant (metastatic) disease from the SEER database and breast cancer patients with distant (metastatic) disease from the City of Hope database were included in the analysis. In addition, the analysis excluded patients whose medical records were missing any of the following information:
  • SEER Summary Stages
  • Primary tumor sites
  • Histologic types of breast cancer
  • Date of initial diagnosis
  • Age at initial diagnosis
  • Gender
  • Race

The City of Hope sample is relatively small because only metastatic breast cancer patients who had been initially diagnosed at City of Hope and/or received at least part of their initial course of treatment at City of Hope were included. These factors significantly reduced the size of the City of Hope sample, which means that the estimates reflected in the survival chart may be subject to high variation and may not be replicated in the future when we have a larger City of Hope sample for analysis.

For a full, technical explanation of the methodology used in the analyses and a detailed description of the City of Hope and SEER patient groups included, click here to view statistical methodology, and for more information about the SEER program, go to seer.cancer.gov.

We also want to be sure you understand that cancer is a complex disease and each person's medical condition is different; therefore, City of Hope makes no claims about the efficacy of specific treatments, the delivery of care, nor the meaning of the City of Hope and SEER analyses. Not all cancer patients who are treated at a City of Hope hospital may experience these same results.

Next topic: What are the top questions about breast cancer?