title: Breast cancer outcomes at the Strathfield Breast Centre.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the most common cause of cancer death in women. This report presents outcomes from a multidisciplinary breast clinic established in 1989 with the specific aim of providing a rapid, integrated assessment service for patients with breast disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective data collection and analysis using a Microsoft Access (Microsoft Corp., North Ryde, NSW, Australia) database was established and has collected information on all patients presenting for diagnosis or ongoing management of breast cancer. Data on survival were obtained by routine follow-up visits or contact with the patient's general practitioner.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient age, mode of presentation and histopathology were similar to other population-based studies in Australia. Ninety-three per cent of the patients had a diagnosis confirmed on the day of consultation. The average time between diagnosis and surgery was 11.9 days. Breast preserving surgery was attempted in 68% and achieved in 50% of cases, 67% of patients had one stage surgery. Five-year disease-free survival was 74% and is comparable with other reports.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The centralization of services and expertise has enabled us to provide efficient service and achieve internationally comparable outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Strathfield Private Hospital, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Loveridge
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Janu
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Carmalt
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gillett
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome