<prompt> Most important prognostic factor for breast carcinoma is:Age of the patientLymph node involvementGenetic factorsFamily history  <response>: Ans. b Lymph node involvementPrognosis related to lymph node status: Overall the best prognostic factor for ca breast - disease free survival and overall survival is axillary lymph node status. But if the question has the choice of staging, then it must be opted because it includes lymph node status metastasis also. But the question if asked about the prognosis in metastatic: ca breast- the best option is ER or PR status because the further prognosis and survival in metastatic patients is based on their response to hormone therapy. The patients with ER positive and more with PR positive will respond well with hormone therapy and have a prolonged survival 