Analysis of Survival Rate and Prognostic Factors of 989 Patients with Breast Cancer

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer in Korean women, and recently its incidence has rapidly increased. The purpose of this study was to show the survival rate and prognostic factors for breast cancer in Korean women. METHODS: Nine hundred and eighty nine consecutive breast cancer patients, first diagnosed at the Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University between January 1990 and December 2001, were included in this study. RESULTS: The peak incidence occurred in the 40's age group, and the average age at diagnosis was 48.1 years old. Forty four patients (4.4%) were in stage 0, 218 (22.0%) in stage I, 572 (57.9%) in stage II, 112 (11.4%) in stage III, and 22 (2.2%) in stage IV. The 5 and 10 year disease free and overall survival rates were 73.8 and 68.8 and 79.7% and 65.4%, respectively. A univariate analysis of the prognostic factors showed that age, tumor size and number of metastatic lymph nodes were statistically significant. A multivariate analysis showed that the the number of metastatic lym, ph nodes was the most significant factor for the time to recurrence and overall mortality. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the peak age of the breast cancer patients in Korea was younger than that seen in Western countries, and the survival rates were similar, despite our patients being comprised of a smaller proportion of early breast cancers. The age at time of diagnosis, tumor size, and number of axillary lymph nodes involved were confirmed to have independent influence on the overall survival and disease free survival rates.