Correlation of tumor characteristics and adjuvant treatment in recurrent breast cancer at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center

ABSTRACT

Background: This study was conducted to determine the factors which may affect the incidence and recurrence of breast cancer in patients treated at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC). Methods: Utilizing hospital records, a case-control study was done on all breast cancer patients, treated at the VSMMC from January 200 to December 2007, comparing those who developed recurrence and those who did not. Results and Conclusions: Of the total of 404 patients treated at VSMMC during this period, only 370 patients (91.6%) with complete records were retrieved and included in the study. Overall recurrence rate was 17.8%. Age, parity, menopausal status nor family history of breast cancer, tumor characteristics, nor adjuvant therapy compliance, were the same for the two groups. More patients without recurrence underwent hormonal therapy (P=0.113). Those patients with recurrent breast cancer more often had positive lymph nodes (P=0.007). Key words recurrent breast cancer