Survival by stage at diagnosis indicates the probability of surviving for a specified time-period depending on the extent of the cancer (stage) at diagnosis. To assist in interpreting the data, some of the findings in the following sections are grouped into:
- Early stage cancers (stage 1 and 2) – restricted to the local area of origin of the cancer;
- Locally advanced cancers (stage 3) – cancers which have spread locally; and
- Metastatic cancers (stage 4) – cancers which have spread to distant sites.
The stage at diagnosis for female breast cancer has been derived from data sources that are routinely accessible to all population-based cancer registries. These data are intended to be used for broad population-based analyses, and not to guide care of an individual.
The data showed that for female breast cancers diagnosed in 2011, a high proportion of cases were early stage cancers:
- Early stage cancers (stage 1 and 2) accounted for around three quarters (77%) of incident cases.
- Stage 1 cancers accounted for 43% of cases (6,110 cases);
- Stage 2 cancers accounted for 35% of cases (4,936 cases).
- Locally advanced cancers (stage 3) accounted for 12% of cases (1,721 cases).
- Metastatic cancers (stage 4) accounted for 5% of cases (660 cases).
- It was not possible to determine stage at diagnosis for 6% of cases (unknown stage; 788 cases).
More information on the distribution of stage at diagnosis can be accessed through the ‘Distribution of cancer stage’ measure.
Relative survival by RD-stage at diagnosis for female breast cancers diagnosed in 2011
Relative survival for all female breast cancers
Survival for females diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 decreased with increasing time from diagnosis at:
- 98% at 1 year from diagnosis;
- 95% at 3 years from diagnosis;
- 91% at 5 years from diagnosis.
Although these data provide insights into survival for females diagnosed with breast cancer, it is also important to examine how survival differs by the extent to which a cancer has spread when first diagnosed.
Relative survival by RD-stage for all female breast cancers
Examining relative survival by stage at diagnosis showed that survival was high for females diagnosed with early stage breast cancers and survival remained high up to 5 years from diagnosis. Cancers diagnosed at stage 3 and 4 had progressively lower survival in subsequent years from diagnosis compared to early stage cancers. Survival by stage at diagnosis is examined in more detail in the following sections.
Relative survival for early stage breast cancers
For females diagnosed with early stage cancers (stage 1 and 2), survival remained high up to 5 years from diagnosis.
Survival for females diagnosed with:
- Stage 1 cancers was 100% at 1, 3 and 5 years from diagnosis;
- Stage 2 cancers decreased from 100% to 98% between 1 and 3 years from diagnosis. Survival decreased further to 95% at 5 years from diagnosis.
Relative survival for advanced breast cancers
Survival was lower for females diagnosed with advanced cancers, particularly for cancers diagnosed as metastatic (stage 4). Survival also decreased with increasing time from diagnosis for stage 3 and 4 cancers.
Survival for females diagnosed with:
- Locally advanced cancers (stage 3) decreased from 98% to 88% between 1 and 3 years from diagnosis. Survival decreased further to 81% at 5 years from diagnosis;
- Metastatic cancers (stage 4) decreased from 69% to 47% between 1 and 3 years from diagnosis. Survival decreased further to 32% at 5 years from diagnosis.
Relative survival by stage at diagnosis and age in 2011
Relative survival by age for female breast cancers
The analysis in the following section examines overall patterns in relative survival across age groups where there were sufficient numbers for reporting purposes. The overall trend showed a lower survival with increasing age for cancers diagnosed at stage 3 and 4. Guidance for interpreting the data can be found in the ‘About the Data’ tab.
For stage 1 cancers, survival was similar across all age groups at 1, 3 and 5 years from diagnosis (at least 98%).
For stage 2 cancers, survival was similar across all age groups at 1 year (at least 99%), 3 years (between 96% and 99%) and 5 years from diagnosis (between 90% and 97% for females in age groups less than 70 years).
For locally advanced cancers (stage 3):
- Survival varied across all age groups at 1 year (between 89% and 100%), 3 years (between 68% and 95%) and 5 years from diagnosis (between 67% and 89%);
- Survival generally decreased with increasing age for females:
- In age groups between 65 and 85 years and over from 91% to 68% at 3 years from diagnosis;
- In age groups between 65 and 84 years from 89% to 67% at 5 years from diagnosis.
For metastatic cancers (stage 4):
- Survival varied across all age groups at 1 year (between 41% and 95%), 3 years (between 38% and 65% for females in age groups less than 80 years) and 5 years from diagnosis (between 30% and 49% for females in age groups between 45 and 74 years of age);
- Survival also generally decreased with increasing age for females:
- Across all age groups from 95% to 41% at 1 year from diagnosis;
- In age groups between 40 and 79 years from 65% to 38% at 3 years from diagnosis.
- Survival varied among females in age groups between 45 and 74 years, ranging between 30% and 49% at 5 years from diagnosis.
Relative survival by age (<50 years and ≥50 years age groups)
This section examines patterns in relative survival for females aged 50 years and over compared to females aged less than 50 years. A similar proportion of cases (between 4% and 7% of cancers) were not able to be staged for both age groups.
- Females aged 50 years and over when diagnosed:
- Accounted for 77% of cases eligible for staging;
- Had a high proportion of cases (78%) diagnosed at an early stage (stage 1, 45%; stage 2, 33%) whilst more advanced cancers combined accounted for 16% of cases (stage 3, 11%; stage 4, 5%).
- Females aged less than 50 years when diagnosed:
- Accounted for a low proportion of cases overall (23%);
- Had a high proportion cases (77%) diagnosed at an early stage (stage 1, 37%; stage 2, 40%) whilst more advanced cancers accounted for 19% of cases (stage 3, 15%; stage 4, 4%).
For early stage cancers (stage 1 and 2), survival by stage at diagnosis was similar for both age groups at 1, 3 and 5 years from diagnosis (between 94% and 100%).
For locally advanced cancers (stage 3):
- Females aged 50 years and over had similar survival to those aged less than 50 years at 1 year from diagnosis (98% compared to 99%);
- Females aged 50 years and over had lower survival compared to those aged less than 50 years:
- 86% compared to 93% at 3 years from diagnosis;
- 78% compared to 86% at 5 years from diagnosis.
For metastatic cancers (stage 4):
- Females aged 50 years and over had lower survival compared to those aged less than 50 years:
- 64% compared to 89% at 1 year from diagnosis;
- 44% compared to 62% at 3 years from diagnosis;
- 28% compared to 48% at 5 years from diagnosis.
Observed survival by stage at diagnosis and remoteness area in 2011
For examination of survival by remoteness area, the data apply to observed rather than relative survival due to an absence of life tables. More information can be found in the ‘About the Data’ tab
For female breast cancers, observed survival by stage at diagnosis was generally similar across remoteness areas for stage 1 to 3 cancers.
For metastatic cancers (stage 4), there tended to be a difference in observed survival between people living in Inner and Outer Regional areas compared to Major Cities at 1 year (65% compared to 69%), 3 years (38% compared to 47%) and 5 years from diagnosis (24% compared to 31%).
For metastatic cancers (stage 4), observed survival was not reported for Remote and Very Remote areas at 1, 3 and 5 years from diagnosis due to small numbers.
Observed survival by stage at diagnosis and socioeconomic status (SES) area in 2011
For examination of survival by SES areas, the data apply to observed rather than relative survival due to an absence of life tables. More information can be found in the ‘About the Data’ tab
For female breast cancers, observed survival was generally similar across SES areas at 1, 3 and 5 years from diagnosis.
For stage 1 cancers, there was a small but significant difference in observed survival between females living in the highest SES areas (SES5, 97%) compared to lower SES areas (SES1-3, between 94 % and 95%) at 5 years from diagnosis.
Observed survival by stage at diagnosis and Indigenous status in 2011
Analyses of survival by stage at diagnosis were not undertaken by Indigenous status due to small numbers.