Related Experiment Videos
Synchronous, bilateral breast cancer: prognostic value and incidence
J J Jobsen1, J van der Palen, F Ong
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Medisch Spectrum Twente Haaksbergerstraat 55, 7513 ER, Enschede, The Netherlands. rath_mst@euronet.nl
Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|December 9, 2003
Summary
Patients with bilateral breast cancer (BBC) treated with breast-conserving therapy (BCT) have a higher risk of distant metastasis and worse disease-specific survival (DSS) compared to unilateral breast cancer (UBC) patients. However, local recurrence rates are similar, indicating BCT is a viable option for BBC.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Radiotherapy
Background:
- Bilateral breast cancer (BBC) is a rare condition.
- The prognosis of BBC following breast-conserving treatment (BCT) is not well-established.
- Comparing BBC to unilateral breast cancer (UBC) is crucial for treatment decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if patients with BBC have a worse prognosis than UBC patients after BCT.
- To compare recurrence rates and survival outcomes between BBC and UBC patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 1760 BCT cases from 1983-2000.
- Identification of 26 BBC cases and comparison with UBC cases.
- Analysis of local recurrence rates (LRRs), distant metastasis, and disease-specific survival (DSS).
Main Results:
- BBC patients had a higher proportion of tubular carcinoma and medially located tumors.
- 5- and 10-year distant metastasis rates were significantly higher in BBC patients (26.9%/50.7%) vs. UBC (13.4%/21.1%).
- 5- and 10-year DSS rates were worse for BBC patients (82.1%/41%) vs. UBC (91.4%/84%).
Conclusions:
- Patients with BBC treated with BCT experience a higher rate of distant metastasis and worse DSS compared to UBC patients.
- Local recurrence rates were similar between BBC and UBC, suggesting BCT is not contraindicated for BBC.
- The low incidence of BBC (1.5%) limits definitive conclusions on optimal treatment strategies.