[Effect of chemotherapy on survival in advanced breast cancer]

Survival time of 119 consecutive patients with metastasizing carcinoma of the breast who had been treated with various chemotherapeutic schedules after radical operation was determined retrospectively. 57 women received chemotherapy and hormones, as well as radiotherapy, while 62 had radiotherapy plus hormone treatment. The mean prolongation of life in the former group over that of the latter was 12 months (p less than 0.01). Although chemotherapy delayed death, the dynamics of cancer were not fundamentally affected. The chemotherapy-induced prolongation (2.5 months to five years) was independent of any risk, primary location of the metastases or age.