"Breast Cancer Tumor Size"
In all of the reading that I have done, breast cancer tumor size was one of the most important factors in determining survival and treatment courses. Most of the classification for stages are based one of two things, 1. Breast cancer tumor size, and 2. Lymph node involvement. Breast cancer tumor sizes are typically measured in centimeters (cm). 2.54 centimeters is the same size as 1 inch, or about the size of a quarter. Breast tumors may not grow in a perfect circle; they could have very irregular edges. Larger tumors are typically associated with a lower survival rate. Now, there are several factors that contribute to survival – tumor size alone does not determine potential survival. But it is important to note that survival rates drop from the mid to high 90% level for tumors smaller than 2 cm to below 70% for tumors larger than 5 cm. The relative survival rates stated above are for breast cancer survivors who lived at least five years. This change in survival potential is very significant. Click here for more information on how breast cancer tumor size impacts cancer staging or overall 5 year survival rates. Earlier detection of breast cancer may mean catching it before the breast cancer tumor has gotten large. And with a 20% or more improvement in survival… the significance of this is critical. Notice below the difference in the sizes of breast tumors found with different techniques: • 1.1cm Average size that a routine mammogram finds • 1.5 cm Average size that a first mammogram finds • 2.1 cm Average size that doing regular self breast exams finds • 3.6 cm Average size finding a tumor by accident (Reference: Imaginis.com “Guidelines Women Should Follow for Early Detection of Breast Cancer” accessed May 16, 2008.) Detecting breast cancer early is critical. Finding tumors while they are still small improves chances of surviving enormously. Subsequently – reaching younger women is so important. Younger women (35 years old or less) are typically diagnosed with much larger, more aggressive cancers and their chances of surviving is typically less than women over the age of 50 years of age. What makes this message more important is that younger women are not normally receiving mammograms or performing SBE.
Click here to read about breast cancer survival rates. Click here to read more about tumor size and the classification of breast cancer tumors. Click here to read more about mammograms.
Click here to read more about self-breast exams (SBE).
One final thing. Mammograms are important tools in detecting breast cancer early. But there are studies out there that support the fact that they are not perfect. It is possible to have a clear mammogram and have a breast cancer tumor!!!It is important to use all of the screening techniques available to you – including mammograms, checking your own breasts each month for changes, having a clinical professional evaluate your breasts each year. A combination of these approaches may make a huge difference in discovering a small tumor with a high chance of survival versus a larger tumor with a less optimistic outlook.
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