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Breast cancer statisitcs
Hello: I have been diagnosed with high grade DCIS and have been doing some research. I have found statistics about recurrence/metastasis that seem to be utterly contradictory.
One, addressing early breast cancer says: "Thirty percent of patients without node involvement at diagnosis will develop metastatic disease."
The other says: "Mastectomy for DCIS has been associated with a long-term local regional survival disease-free survival of 95% or greater. Women electing breast conservation surgery are faced with the prospect of a local regional recurrance rate of approximately 1% per year. Although many consider mastectomy to be curative, a small percentage of patients (1-4%) will eventually develop chest wall recurrence."
What is true?
One, addressing early breast cancer says: "Thirty percent of patients without node involvement at diagnosis will develop metastatic disease."
The other says: "Mastectomy for DCIS has been associated with a long-term local regional survival disease-free survival of 95% or greater. Women electing breast conservation surgery are faced with the prospect of a local regional recurrance rate of approximately 1% per year. Although many consider mastectomy to be curative, a small percentage of patients (1-4%) will eventually develop chest wall recurrence."
What is true?
Thanks very much for your response. Yes, the whole statistical thing is rather confusing! I posted a new question today, trying to get at similar info; if you have a chance to take a look, I'd appreciate your feedback!
Hi.
Actual numbers will vary depending on your source population, so I’d need to know where you got your figures.
However:
The two statements you mentioned are NOT talking of the same thing.
The first one involves only those who are lymph node negative, this will include ALL invasive breast cancer primaries regardless of size. The risk of metastasis is associated with the size of the primary. This would generally include stage 1 and 2 breast cancer (but may include some node negative stage 3, although some groups define early breast as stage 1 and 2 only). This generally does NOT include DCIS (but then, it depends on who is doing the study, as oncologists have definitions of recurrence and metastasis that may or may not include new breast cancer or new DCIS – so for this you need to see the details).
The second statement involves only DCIS which will have a better prognosis than invasive breast cancer. This would be classified as stage 0.
Hope this did not create more confusion. My best to you and happy holidays.
Actual numbers will vary depending on your source population, so I’d need to know where you got your figures.
However:
The two statements you mentioned are NOT talking of the same thing.
The first one involves only those who are lymph node negative, this will include ALL invasive breast cancer primaries regardless of size. The risk of metastasis is associated with the size of the primary. This would generally include stage 1 and 2 breast cancer (but may include some node negative stage 3, although some groups define early breast as stage 1 and 2 only). This generally does NOT include DCIS (but then, it depends on who is doing the study, as oncologists have definitions of recurrence and metastasis that may or may not include new breast cancer or new DCIS – so for this you need to see the details).
The second statement involves only DCIS which will have a better prognosis than invasive breast cancer. This would be classified as stage 0.
Hope this did not create more confusion. My best to you and happy holidays.
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