Breast Conservation Therapy provides Better Survival for Early Stage Breast Cancer

Reseach by Agarwal S, et al published in JAMASurgery reports on an analysis of 132 149 patients who were followed between the years 1998 and 2008.  

Breast conservation therapy (lumpectomy and radiation therapy) was used to treat 70% of patients, mastectomy alone was used to treat 27% of patients, and mastectomy with radiation was used to treat 3% of patients. The 5-year breast cancer–specific survival rates of patients who underwent BCT, a mastectomy alone, or a mastectomy with radiation were 97%, 94%, and 90%, respectively (P < .001); the 10-year breast cancer–specific survival rates were 94%, 90%, and 83%, respectively (P < .001). Multivariate analysis showed that women undergoing BCT had a higher survival rate than those undergoing mastectomy alone (hazard ratio, 1.31; P < .001) or mastectomy with radiation (hazard ratio, 1.47; P < .001). 

The authors conclude that patients who underwent BCT versus mastectomy alone or mastectomy and radiation therapy for early stage invasive ductal cancer- defined as having a tumor size of 4 cm or smaller and 3 or less positive lymph nodes- have higher breast cancer specific survival.

Agarwal S, Pappas L, Neumayer M et al; Effect of Breast Conservation Therapy vs Mastectomy on Disease-Specific Survival for Early-Stage Breast Cancer.  JAMA Surg. Published online January 15, 2014

doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2013.3049