Statistics are hard to keep up with. The stats quoted in this slide are a combination of reviewing the SEER database, extrapolating what we know, and a good amount of anecdotal data. We do need to be counted more accurately so that stats and data can be more precise. The issue is, especially for hormone positive cancer, a reoccurrence at another early stage or at stage IV can happen decades away from the initial diagnosis. And the cancer doesn’t have to spread through the lymphatic system. Mine, for instance, spread through my blood as I had no positive lymph nodes.
No Half Measures 
I’m feeling a little dense (and I have dense breasts). Jokes aside, I’ve been using the statistic that 10% of breast cancers are metastatic upon diagnosis. Is 8% a new number? I don’t understand how the percentage is slightly down when the number of deaths attributed to MBC is higher than last year. Two separate issues? The stat probably has nothing to do with this and is more connected to earlier stage patients having cancer return as metastatic. I don’t know. Can you explain?
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Honestly, your guess is as good as mine! I have a hard time keeping up with all the stats and so much of it just doesn’t have good explanations. I think that I’ve seen the percentages do those of us who are de novo metastatic as high as 12%. At the end of the day, I’m pretty sure that it’s a small percentage overall, but a larger percentage of those of us diagnosed under 40 are de novo metastatic versus the larger population. I wish I had a better explanation, but that’s it is.
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I love it when people get together and share ideas. Great site, stick with it!
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