Survival of Breast Cancer Patients Diagnosed During Pregnancy or Lactation
Author Information
Author(s): S. Tretli, G. Kvalheim, S. Thoresen, H. Host
Primary Institution: The Cancer Registry of Norway, Institute for Epidemiological Cancer Research
Hypothesis
Do breast cancer patients diagnosed during pregnancy or lactation have different survival rates compared to non-pregnant patients?
Conclusion
Breast cancer patients diagnosed during pregnancy have a significantly poorer prognosis compared to control groups.
Supporting Evidence
- Only 3 out of 20 pregnant patients survived more than 4 years.
- Pregnant women with breast cancer had a median diagnosis delay of 2.5 months.
- The risk of death for breast cancer patients diagnosed during pregnancy is 3.1 times higher than for other cancer patients.
Takeaway
Women who get breast cancer while pregnant or breastfeeding may not live as long as those who get it at other times.
Methodology
The study compared survival rates of breast cancer patients diagnosed during pregnancy and lactation with matched control groups from the Norwegian Cancer Registry.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in matching controls and the subjective nature of histological grading.
Limitations
The study may not account for all variables affecting survival, and the sample size is relatively small.
Participant Demographics
Patients were below 45 years of age, with 20 diagnosed during pregnancy and 15 during lactation.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 31, 37
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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