[Breast cancer detection and treatment (author's transl)]

The records of the district offices for cancer control in Berlin and Königs Wusterhausen were used in order to analyse changes in the detection and management of female breast cancer between 1955 and 1974. The proportion of new cases younger than 45 years has increased from 8 percent to about 13 percent. Since 1970 there has been an increase in stage I and a decrease of stage IV. From 1960 to 1969 only 71 percent of all patients were radically operated upon, but in 1973/74 the proportion rose to nearly 75 percent. The tendency to extend the indication for radical surgery affects elderly women (65 to 74 years) more than younger patients. Survival rate depends on clinical stage, age and mode of treatment. It can be expected that the survival rate will increase with more radical surgery.