Prognosis in Bilateral Breast Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): L. Holmberg, H.O. Adami, A. Ekbom, R. Bergström, A. Sandström, A. Lindgren
Primary Institution: University Hospital, Uppsala; Uppsala University; Umea University
Hypothesis
What is the prognosis for women with bilateral breast cancer compared to those with unilateral breast cancer?
Conclusion
Women with bilateral breast cancer have a poorer prognosis than those with unilateral disease.
Supporting Evidence
- Relative survival at 8 years was 69% for women with unilateral disease compared to 53% for women with bilateral cancer.
- The relative hazard rate was significantly higher for women with bilateral versus unilateral breast cancer.
- The study included nearly all incident cases of breast cancer from one third of the Swedish population diagnosed during a 14-month period.
Takeaway
This study found that women with two breast cancers have a harder time surviving than those with just one, especially if the cancers are diagnosed close together.
Methodology
The study analyzed survival rates of women with bilateral and unilateral breast cancer using a population-based case-control design and multivariate analysis.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to treatment variations and the nature of the patient population.
Limitations
The small number of observed bilateral cancers limits the statistical power of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The study included 1349 women, with 67 having bilateral breast cancer, and the mean age at diagnosis was 63.5 years for unilateral cases and 55.2 years for bilateral cases.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.006
Confidence Interval
(1.1-2.3)
Statistical Significance
p=0.006
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