Treatment of breast cancer in the Auckland region 1976-85.
OBJECTIVE
A descriptive study of the treatment of breast cancer in Auckland between the years 1976 to 1985.


METHODS
A database was constructed utilising information from all new breast cancer cases recorded in the Auckland region from September 1976 to September 1985. Details of treatment were obtained at the time of diagnosis and the database was updated every 9 months. Patient survival was measured and changes in the pattern of treatment were assessed.


RESULTS
After a median follow up of 9 years 41% of patients were alive without evidence of breast cancer, 9% were alive with recurrence and 50% had died, 38% having died of breast cancer. Survival of node positive patients at 5 years of follow up who received adjuvant tamoxifen or adjuvant chemotherapy was 57 (SE 4)% and 63 (4)% respectively. The proportion of less than mastectomy surgical procedures increased over the study period, and local recurrence in these patients was reduced by postoperative radiotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Between 1976 and 1985 there was an increasing rate of conservative surgery for breast cancer in Auckland. Overall survival of patients was comparable to that reported in international studies, with increasing use of adjuvant endocrine therapy but a decline in adjuvant chemotherapy over the duration of the study.
Mason
B H
BH
Department of Medicine, University of Auckland School of Medicine.
Holdaway
I M
IM
Newman
P D
PD
Kay
R G
RG
Benjamin
C
C
Harvey
V J
VJ
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016019:Survival Analysis