The 5-year survival rate (from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program) depends on cancer stage: Localized (confined to primary site): 99.0% Regional (confined to regional lymph nodes): 85.8% Distant (metastasized): 29.0% Unknown: 57.8% Poorer prognosis is associated with the following other factors: Young age: Prognosis appears worse for patients diagnosed with breast cancer during their 20s and 30s than for patients diagnosed during middle age.