End results of treatment of breast cancer patients

Data are presented on 3359 breast cancer patients treated at the Petrov Research Institute of Oncology of the USSR Ministry of Health. For the 20-year period (from 1955 to 1975) not large but statistically significant increase of the 5-year survival was noted which achieved 64.7% in 1971-1975. The rise of survival was observed in patients aged under 50, subjected to adjuvant chemotherapy (Thio-TEPA, 5-Ftoruracil). Development of distant metastases was the cause of death of breast cancer patients within the 15 years after the beginning of treatment in 68.8% of cases. Only 7.6% of patients expired from distant metastases in 15-20 years following operation.