Do changes in lymph node status distribution explain trends in survival of breast cancer patients in Denmark?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Do changes in lymph node status distribution explain trends in survival of breast cancer patients in Denmark?

AU - Rostgaard, Klaus

AU - Vaeth, Michael

AU - Rootzén, Helle

AU - Mouridsen, Henning

AU - Olesen, Knud P

AU - Lynge, Elsebeth

N1 - Keywords: Aged; Breast Neoplasms; Denmark; Female; Humans; Incidence; Lymph Nodes; Middle Aged; Survival Analysis; Survival Rate

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - We studied the impact on survival of changes in breast cancer patients' distribution by lymph node status at the time of diagnosis. Our study included breast cancer patients diagnosed from 1978 to 1994 in Denmark, where the treatment schemes for breast cancer patients were fairly stable, and where mammography screening was limited. We measured lymph node status by the proportion of positive lymph nodes of all excised lymph nodes, as assessed by a pathologist. This measure was available for two-thirds of the breast cancer patients. The outcome was 5-year relative survival. Changes in lymph node status distribution explained half of the improvement in 5-year relative survival, and seem to be the single most important cause behind the improved survival of breast cancer patients in Denmark.

AB - We studied the impact on survival of changes in breast cancer patients' distribution by lymph node status at the time of diagnosis. Our study included breast cancer patients diagnosed from 1978 to 1994 in Denmark, where the treatment schemes for breast cancer patients were fairly stable, and where mammography screening was limited. We measured lymph node status by the proportion of positive lymph nodes of all excised lymph nodes, as assessed by a pathologist. This measure was available for two-thirds of the breast cancer patients. The outcome was 5-year relative survival. Changes in lymph node status distribution explained half of the improvement in 5-year relative survival, and seem to be the single most important cause behind the improved survival of breast cancer patients in Denmark.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 16912568

SN - 0959-8278

VL - 15

SP - 398

EP - 404

JO - European Journal of Cancer Prevention

JF - European Journal of Cancer Prevention

IS - 5

ER -