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. 2014 Feb 4;110(3):556-9.
doi: 10.1038/bjc.2013.732. Epub 2013 Dec 3.

Breast cancer survival and prognosis by screening history

A J Coldman  1 , N Phillips  1
Affiliations

Breast cancer survival and prognosis by screening history

A J Coldman et al. Br J Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Cancers not detected by breast screening are commonly assumed to have poorer prognosis.

Methods: We examined the survival experience of all women aged 50-74 years diagnosed with a first breast cancer between 1998 and 2006 in British Columbia, Canada and determined their screening experience. Disease-specific survival rates were calculated and, for cases diagnosed in 2002, prognostic factors (size, nodal involvement, grade ER status and stage) were examined by time since screening.

Results: Breast cancers diagnosed at screening had the best survival (P<0.001). Cancers detected within 12 months of a negative screen had similar survival rates (P=0.98) to those diagnosed within 12-23 and 24-47 months, with other non-screen-detected cancers having poorer survival (P<0.001). The prognostic profile of cancers diagnosed in 2002 followed a similar pattern.

Interpretation: There was no evidence that cancers diagnosed within 12 months had poorer prognosis than those diagnosed up to 48 months following screening.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Breast cancer-specific survival by screening status at diagnosis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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