Brief Answer:
The answer depends on at which stage it is detected.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

The answer to your question actually depends upon multiple variables. There are several types of breast cancer. Cancers are formed of rapidly dividing cells. Hence a lump formation is quite likely irrespective of the type of breast cancer. Initially the lump may not get detected but with the increase in size, its likelihood of getting detected rises. Initially the mass is limited to a certain area but thereafter it may affect surrounding structures. Manifestations due to involvement of surrounding structures may increase likelihood of its getting detected. The next stage is spread to lymph nodes thus resulting in swollen lymph nodes in the axilla. If that too is missed, the likelihood of spread to other distant organs (metastasis) is high. In case of metastasis, it may manifest with cancer of other organs. Sooner or later, one of them will get detected. But at this stage there might hardly be much to be done.

So, the answer to your question is that breast cancer may be missed for a long time. The earlier it is detected, better is the scope of living on. If detected before spread to anywhere else, with surgery you can simply get a normal life with no effect of cancer whatsoever. If detected later but treated surgically as well as with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, you might have a few years to live. If detected after metastasis, your chances of survival might be less than a year.

I hope you understand.

Regards

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