How many years before I can say I'm cured of breast cancer?

Rather than use the word "cured", most experts talk about the 5-year survival rate after cancer. Generally, survival rates are higher for women diagnosed with earlier-stage cancers (Stage 0 or Stage I); however, it also depends on a person's age and health, the presence of specific receptors on cancer cells, what treatment was given, and how the woman responded to treatment. Bear in mind that survival rates become out of date quickly as new treatments become available.

99% of women diagnosed with localized breast cancer are alive five years after the initial diagnosis. This drops to 86% in women diagnosed with regional breast cancer, and 28% for women with distant breast cancer. But as treatment evolves, so does the survival rate, and many women still live complete and happy lives even though some residual cancer may remain.