Comparison of recurrence and survival rates after breast-conserving therapy and mastectomy in young women with breast cancer |
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Authors: | J.Q. Cao R.A. Olson S.K. Tyldesley |
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Affiliation: | *BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Centre, Vancouver, BC.;†BC Cancer Agency, Centre for the North, Prince George, BC.;‡University of British Columbia, Department of Surgery, Division of Radiation Oncology and Developmental Radiotherapeutics, Vancouver, BC. |
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Abstract: | Multiple randomized trials have demonstrated that breast-conserving therapy with partial mastectomy and radiotherapy provides survival equivalent to that seen with mastectomy for patients with early-stage breast cancer. Breast-conserving therapy has been associated with better quality of life relative to mastectomy and has become the standard of care for patients with early-stage breast cancer. Young age has been identified as a risk factor for recurrence and death from breast cancer. Some studies have suggested that young women (less than 35 or 40 years of age) have inferior outcomes with breast-conserving therapy, implying that such women may be better served by mastectomy. On review of the available literature, there is no definitive evidence that mastectomy provides a consistent, unequivocal recurrence-free or overall survival benefit over breast-conserving therapy. However, available meta-analyses have not compared outcomes in young women specifically, and such analyses should be performed. In the interim, breast-conserving therapy is not contraindicated in young women (less than 40 years of age) and can be used cautiously; however, such women should be advised of the lack of unequivocal data proving that survival is equivalent to that with mastectomy in their age group. |
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Keywords: | Breast cancer breast-conserving therapy mastectomy recurrence survival young women |
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