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The length of time a women will receive treatment for breast cancer will ultimately depend on a host of variables unique to each individual. According to the nonprofit organization Living Beyond Breast Cancer, an individual diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer can be in active treatment for about one year.

The administration of medicine, the performance or surgery and ongoing therapies are all considered part of active treatment. The Mayo Clinic reports that chemotherapy, a treatment option that utilizes various drugs to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth, can last between three to six months for patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer.

Treatment with chemotherapy can extend beyond six months for individuals with advanced stage breast cancer. Hormonal therapy also can extend the time breast cancer patients are in treatment, as the American Cancer Society reports that this option typically requires patients to take a pill for five years. However, hormonal therapy can extend past five years in certain instances.