Prognostic factors associated with survival after breast cancer recurrence

Acta Oncol. 1991;30(5):583-6. doi: 10.3109/02841869109092422.

Abstract

Factors associated with disease-free interval after the primary treatment and survival after a recurrence of breast cancer were studied in 331 female breast cancer patients treated in 1976-1980. Within five years after the primary treatment, recurrence occurred in 131 patients. The observation time of these patients after recurrence was from few weeks to twelve years. Twenty-nine patients were alive at the end of the follow-up. The average disease-free time was 2 years. The clinical stage of the disease in this material was not significantly associated with the disease-free interval. The median survival time after recurrence was 2.7 years when only breast cancer related deaths were included. Survival was significantly better for patients with primarily stage I disease than for patients with primarily stage II-IV disease. The size of the primary tumour was not significantly associated with survival after recurrence. The patients with loco-regional recurrence survived almost significantly better than those with distant recurrence. The disease-free time correlated positively with survival after a recurrence. The present study confirms the view that breast cancer includes several subgroups with a different type of clinical course.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Recurrence