Breast cancer survival rates by stage

What is a 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer?

Data updated as of April 2026.

A 5-year cancer survival rate represents the percentage of patients who survived at least 5 years after being diagnosed. Cancer 5-year survival rates are calculated using population-based cancer registries that collect data on cancer diagnoses and outcomes from various sources, including hospitals, cancer treatment centers, pathology laboratories, and death certificates. Survival rates can be in the form of 5-year, 10-year, or any increment that aligns with the research, but are typically reported as 5-year survival rates.

These statistics are primarily derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, maintained by the National Cancer Institute and reported by the American Cancer Society.

Remember that each patient’s diagnosis and health conditions are different, so don’t be discouraged or make assumptions based on survival rates. These are just general statistics about a population. For some, they might be helpful to know, but for others, they may have the opposite effect. 

Talk to your doctor to understand how these overall statistics best pertain to your personal diagnosis, age, and other factors.

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Stage 0 breast cancer survival rate (In situ)

Stage 0 breast cancer is also known as carcinoma in situ. In situ breast cancer refers to a form of non-invasive breast cancer where abnormal cells are found in the ducts or lobules of the breast but have not spread into nearby breast tissue. The term “in situ” is Latin for “in place” or “localized,” indicating that the cancer cells have remained confined to their original location within the breast ducts or lobules.

5-year survival rates for stage 0 breast cancer are 99% or higher across age groups.

Stage 1 breast cancer survival rate (Localized)

Stage I is early-stage breast cancer. At this stage, the cancer has spread, but not outside the breast. Stage 1 breast cancer has cancer cells that are invading or starting to break through to normal surrounding breast tissue. This stage is very treatable.

Also known as, localized breast cancer, stage I breast cancer has a 99% 5-year survival rate.

Stage II breast cancer survival rate (Localized)

Similar to stage I breast cancer, stage II breast cancer is spreading or growing, but is still localized to the breast and nearby lymph nodes. Similar to stage I breast cancer, stage II can be classified into two groups: Stage IIA and stage IIB. The size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes can define which substage the diagnosis falls into.

The 5-year survival rate for stage II breast cancer, including stage IIA and IIB, depends on whether it’s spread to the lymph nodes. If it hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes, the survival rate is over 99%. If it has spread to the lymph nodes, the survival rate is 87%.

Stage III breast cancer survival rate (Regional)

Stage III breast cancer is broken down into 3 subcategories: IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC. Stage III breast cancer has spread beyond the immediate region. It’s likely invaded nearby lymph nodes and muscles. While stage III breast cancer has not spread to distant organs, it’s considered an advanced type of cancer. However, there are ways to effectively treat stage III breast cancer.

The 5-year survival rate for stage 3 breast cancer ranges from 66%-98%.

Stage IV breast cancer survival rate (Distant)

Stage IV breast cancer is advanced breast cancer that has spread or metastasized to various organs or lymph nodes outside of the breast such as the bones, brain, or liver. For some, breast cancer is not detected until it’s spread. Additionally, breast cancer can return as metastatic breast cancer. It’s important to show up for annual exams and see your doctor if you notice any unusual changes or symptoms.

Stage IV breast cancer has a survival rate of about 31%. 

What other factors affect survival rates?

There are many factors that can influence breast cancer survival rates, such as age and overall health, tumor grade, if cancer cells contain hormone receptors, if cancer tests positive for HER2, and how the patient/cancer respond to treatment.

Where do the breast cancer survival rate statistics come from?

Cancer 5-year survival rates are calculated using population-based cancer registries that collect data on cancer diagnoses and outcomes from various sources, including hospitals, cancer treatment centers, pathology laboratories, and death certificates.

These statistics are most commonly derived from the SEER database, maintained by the National Cancer Institute and analyzed by organizations like the American Cancer Society.

Individual research studies may also provide information about endpoints such as survival and progression-free survival, but this information is very specific to a given study and differs from population-level survival rates. When it comes to statistics, they are only as good as the data behind them. It’s important to understand how the statistics are calculated and how they relate to your diagnosis.

Talk openly with your care team, track how you’re feeling between appointments, and lean on trustworthy resources like Outcomes4Me to stay empowered.