The presence of three factors for the prognosis has been suggested, whether there is a palpable mass of the disease, whether lymph nodes are positive and whether there is underlying cancer.(1)
If none of the bad prognostic factors are present then the five- and 10 -year survival is 85 % and 80 % respectively, with adjuvant chemotherapy even 95 % and 90 %. If there is a palpable mass, it is 32 % and 31 % respectively, with adjuvant chemotherapy (40 % and 35 %).(1)
How Long Will It Take To Recover From Paget’s Disease Of The Breast?
Since Paget’s disease of the breast is a progressive condition with poor prognosis, it is almost inevitable that it can resolve automatically without any treatment. Some intervention is always needed whether in the form of medical or surgical treatment. The recovery of the condition depends largely upon its initial presentation, its extent of involvement of the local as well as underlying tissue. Surgical treatment could act as a complete cure for this condition and full recovery will take place within 15 to 30 days.
But if the patient presents in later stages, then this condition may not completely recover because of the association with underlying breast cancer which may have spread to surrounding lymph nodes or has metastasized to other body parts. The prognosis and recovery period largely depends upon specific prognostic factors such as palpable breast tumor, lymph node enlargement, histology of cancer, and young age usually below 60 years.(2)
The overall survival rate varies widely depending upon these prognostic factors, like if the patient has positive lymph nodes for the underlying breast cancer then the overall survival rate is between 20 to 25 % but if there are no positive lymph nodes then overall survival rate may range up to 95 %.
If the advent treatment is given in the form of chemotherapy or sometimes radiotherapy, then the 10-year survival rate shows a considerable rise in cases of positive lymph node ranging up to 45 % whereas in the cases of negative lymph nodes it ranges between 93 to 95 %.(3)
How Long Do The Symptoms Of Paget’s Disease Of The Breast Last?
The period for the symptoms to appear is largely unrelated to that of the condition because it varies from case to case. Some persons may experience the appearance of earlier and faster symptoms because of the rapidly growing underlying breast cancer but it may not be the same in all cases. Similarly, the recovery of these symptoms is also dependent upon the type of treatment given to the patient. If the case is approved with only medical treatment in the form of chemotherapy then it may take a long time to recover from the symptoms and additional new symptoms may appear because of its toxicity. Whereas on the other hand, if surgical treatment is pursued in such cases then it may recover the patient within a short period for example 15 to 30 days.
Conclusion
Paget’s disease of the breast is a slowly growing condition in its initial phases because of the involvement of few lactiferous ducts but it may also spread rapidly in many cases. Hence the period of symptoms taken to appear and disappear varies widely.
The period to get the full recovery of the patient out of this condition depends upon various factors like initial presentation, the underlying type of cancer, the involvement of lymph nodes, type of the treatment given, etc. Surgical treatment is curative almost instantly and recovery occurs within a short period but the major drawback is it can be followed only in early stages with considerable success.
Also Read:
- Who Is Prone To Paget’s Disease of The Breast & Is There A Blood Test For It?
- How Do I Know If I Have Paget’s Disease Of The Breast & Will A Mammogram Detect It?
- How Aggressive Is Paget’s Disease Of The Breast & How Fast Does It Progress?
- What Leads To Paget’s Disease Of The Breast & Can It Be Cured?
- How Common Is Paget’s Disease Of The Breast Or Is It A Rare Disease?
- Is Paget’s Disease Of The Breast A Progressive Disease & Alternative Treatments For It?
- What Happens If Paget’s Disease Of The Breast Is Left Untreated & When to See A Doctor For It?
