Breast cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. Survival for breast cancer is generally good, particularly if you are diagnosed early. This is probably because of screening, early diagnosis and improved treatment.
Survival depends on many different factors. So no one can tell you exactly how long you will live. It depends on your:
type and stage of cancer
level of fitness
previous treatment
No UK-wide statistics are available for different stages of breast cancer. Survival statistics are available for each stage of breast cancer in England. These figures are for women diagnosed between 2016 and 2020.
Most women (almost 100%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
90 out of 100 women (90%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
More than 70 out of 100 women (more than 70%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
More than 25 out of 100 women (more than 25%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed. The cancer is not curable at this point, but may be controlled with treatment for some years.
You can view survival figures for Wales and Northern Ireland on our early diagnosis pages. Survival statistics for Scotland are not available.
Go to our early diagnosis data hub to view survival statistics for Wales and Northern Ireland
The UK survival statistics come from England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have a similar population and health care system. So we can apply these survival statistics to the whole of the UK.
Generally for women with breast cancer in the UK:
more than 95 out of every 100 (more than 95%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more
almost 90 out of every 100 (almost 90%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more
more than 75 out of every 100 (more than 75%) survive their cancer for 10 years or more
Your outlook depends on the stage of the cancer when it was diagnosed. This means how big it is and whether it has spread.
The type of cancer and grade of the cancer cells can also affect your survival. Grade means how abnormal the cells look under the microscope.
Your general health and fitness also affect survival, the fitter you are, the better you may be able to cope with your cancer and treatment.
Another factor that can affect survival is whether the cancer cells have receptors for particular cancer drugs.
The terms 1 year survival and 5 year survival don't mean that you will only live for 1 or 5 years.
The NHS, other health organisations, and researchers collect information. They record what happens to people with cancer in the years after their diagnosis. 5 years is a common time point to measure survival. But some people live much longer than this.
5 year survival is the number of people who have not died from their cancer within 5 years after diagnosis.
For more in depth information about breast cancer survival, go to our Cancer Statistics section.
Last reviewed: 08 Jun 2023
Next review due: 08 Jun 2026
Breast cancer is cancer that starts in the breast tissue. Find out about who gets breast cancer and where it starts.
You usually start by seeing your GP. Or you may have had changes picked up through breast screening. Find out about being referred to a breast clinic and the tests you might have.
Get information about how doctors stage and grade breast cancer. In the UK, doctors use the TNM system to stage breast cancer. You may also be told about the number staging system.
Treatment for breast cancer depends on a number of factors. Find out about breast cancer treatments, where and how you have them, and how to cope with possible side effects.
Get practical, physical and emotional support to help you cope with a diagnosis of breast cancer, and life during and after treatment.
Find out about breast cancer, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, survival, and how to cope with the effects on your life and relationships.
About Cancer generously supported by Dangoor Education since 2010. Learn more about Dangoor Education
What to ask your doctor about clinical trials.
Meet and chat to other cancer people affected by cancer.
Questions about cancer? Call freephone 0808 800 40 40 from 9 to 5 - Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can email us.
