STAGE-1 CARCINOMA OF THE BREAST IN SOUTH-WEST GREECE - EVALUATION OF THE OUTCOME AND THE CONCERNS OF THE DECADE 1981-1991

Our purpose was to analyse retrospectively the significantly lower per centage of Stage 1 breast cancer patients diagnosed in South West Gree ce during the decade 1981-91, and their therapeutic outcome. 32 Stage 1 patients, consisting of only 8.3% of the total breast cancer cases r eferred to our breast unit, were analysed. A questionnaire regarding b reast cancer screening was used to assess the divergence in Stage 1 di agnosis, while life table methods were used to evaluate overall surviv al and disease free interval. The mixed nature of the population of So uth West Greece and the distance of a great number of people from big hospital facilities with organised breast units were the main causes o f the delayed diagnosis of the breast cancers and therefore the low ov erall percentage of Stage 1 patients. Regarding the treatment outcome, with a follow-up time ranging from 60 to 180 months, no cancer-relate d deaths, nor local or distant metastases were recorded for any of the se patients. Improvement in the screening programmes conducted by the smaller county hospitals is the answer to increase early stage diagnos is. Modified radical and mastectomy and breast conserving surgery are of equal value for Stage 1 patients, but adjuvant chemoendocrine treat ment clearly produces long-term disease free intervals and increases o verall survival. (C) 1998 Chapman & Hall Ltd.