BREAST-CANCER DETECTION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT DATA CAN DETERMINE WHETHER THE PROGNOSIS OF BREAST-CANCER IS AFFECTED BY THE TIME OF SURGERY DURING THE MENSTRUAL-CYCLE
Js. Spratt et al., BREAST-CANCER DETECTION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT DATA CAN DETERMINE WHETHER THE PROGNOSIS OF BREAST-CANCER IS AFFECTED BY THE TIME OF SURGERY DURING THE MENSTRUAL-CYCLE, Journal of surgical oncology, 53(1), 1993, pp. 4-9
The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using Br
east Cancer Detection Demonstration Project (BCDDP) data to ascertain
whether the prognosis of breast cancer in premenopausal women is affec
ted when surgery is performed relative to the different phases of the
menstrual cycle. In the Louisville BCDDP only 40 cases were available
for study, but even with this small number, the data indicate that sur
vivorship was superior when the surgery was performed between days 7-2
0 of the menstrual cycle (P < 0.06). One thousand eighty-seven premeno
pausal women underwent surgery for breast cancer during the first 5 ye
ars of the national BCDDP, beginning in 1972. This large number of cas
es, plus the long period of follow-up should provide sufficient statis
tical power for us to evaluate if there is any relationship between th
e day of the menstrual cycle, the day surgery was performed, and progn
osis. This feasibility study indicates that these women should be foll
owed up and the appropriate statistical studies should be done.