The effects of behavioral and biological factors on survival from breast cancer

This research examined the relationship of symptom duration prior to treatment and tumor growth rate (as indicated by changes in symptoms before treatment) upon stage of disease, tumor size, and length of survival in a group of 160 females with an initial diagnosis of breast cancer. Cases were obtained from a 15% random sample of female breast cancer cases admitted to Roswell Park Memorial Institute between 1957 and 1964. Results showed that the association between duration of symptoms and survival varied depending upon the rate of tumor growth. Among patients characterized as having slower-growing tumors, duration of symptoms was inversely associated with length of survival. Among patients characterized as having faster-growing tumors, symptom duration had little influence on survival. These findings suggest that breast cancer control activities which decrease the interval from recognition of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment can favorably influence survival for patients with slower-growing tumors. For patients with faster-growing tumors, early diagnosis and treatment during the symptomatic period is not likely to substantially alter their chances for prolonged survival. For these patients, detection of asymptomatic cancer may be the best hope for improving their prognosis.