This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS
Comparison of breast cancer mortality rates with those of ovarian and colorectal carcinoma. BJS 2007; 94: 957-965.
Published: 21st March 2007
Authors: A. T. Stearns, D. Hole, W. D. George, D. B. Kingsmore
Background
Traditional survival curves cannot easily be used to predict outcome for an individual patient on a year‐to‐year basis. This difficulty is partly overcome by yearly mortality analysis. This method was employed to analyse long‐term follow‐up of three cancers: colorectal, ovarian and breast cancer.
Method
The study used prospectively collected cancer registry data from geographically defined regions in Scotland. Cohort sizes were 7196 patients with breast cancer, 3200 with colorectal cancer and 1866 with ovarian cancer. Follow‐up extended to 23 years.
Results
Two distinct patterns of mortality emerged. Mortality rates for ovarian and colorectal cancer were initially high (41 and 21 per cent) but decreased rapidly; by 10 years patients had either died or were cured. The influence of stage diminished with follow‐up. Breast cancer mortality was lower than that of colorectal or ovarian cancer, but remained raised in comparison to the general population throughout follow‐up. The influence of breast cancer size reduced with follow‐up, whereas that of nodal status persisted.
Conclusion
Patients with breast cancer live at increased risk of death to the end of follow‐up, supporting the concept of dormancy in breast cancer biology. This was not observed with colorectal or ovarian cancer. Copyright © 2007 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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