Recurrence Risk Low For Women Who Survive Breast Cancer Five Years After Treatment, Study Says

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Article Date: 15 Aug 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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Women who survive breast cancer for at least five years after treatment have an 89% chance that they will not have a recurrence of the cancer after 10 years and an 81% chance after 15 years, according to a study published online Tuesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, USA Today reports.

The study involved 2,838 women diagnosed with breast cancer from 1985 to 2001 who had surgery to remove the original tumor, some of whom had radiation. All of the women also took medication to prevent the cancer from returning (Szabo, USA Today, 8/13). Cancer returned after five years in 7% of women treated for stage I breast cancer, 11% of women treated for stage II cancer and 13% of women treated for stage III cancer (Dunham, Reuters, 8/12).

Study author Abenaa Brewster, an assistant professor at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, noted that the study did not include women who relapsed before five years. She added that doctors now often prescribe aromatase inhibitors to post-menopausal women when they are diagnosed, which could lead to an even smaller number of relapses after five years (USA Today, 8/13).

~ ABC's "World News" on Tuesday reported on the study. The segment includes comments from ABC News medical editor Timothy Johnson (Gibson, "World News," ABC, 8/12).

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