Early Detection of Breast Cancer : a Key to Survival

Early detection of breast cancer remains a key factor to survival, even with advances in treatment, according to a new study.

Researchers compared survival rates of more than 170,000 breast cancer patients during two different time periods: 1999 through 2005 and 2006 through 2012. They looked at date of diagnosis, age at diagnosis, tumor characteristics and treatments received. Tumors discovered in the more recent time period tended to be smaller and more often lymph node negative. But, patients in this group received more chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and targeted therapy. The overall survival rate in the 2006-2012 group was 96% at five-years follow-up compared to 91% in the 1999-2005 group. The researchers say these findings show that both tumor stage and lymph node status have significant influence on survival, even in the current era of effective systemic therapy. They conclude diagnosis of breast cancer at an early tumor stage remains vital.