c l i n i c a l f o l i o s : n a r r a t i v e





A D V E R T I S E M E N T

 

Breast Cancer: Staging: 13

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

   
 

The standardized staging of breast cancer provides a guide for treatment, allows a comparison of treatment results between different institutions and is an indicator of probable outcome (prognosis). The more advanced the stage, the worse is the prognosis. The prognosis is predicted on the basis of statistical analysis of large groups of patients and is expressed in terms of percent survival over a period of time. Although most breast cancer recurrences occur in the first five years after diagnosis, longer intervals are also relevant in breast cancer because the disease also has late recurrences. A statistical prognostic figure does not necessarily mean a particular patient will do well or badly, but does help guide therapy.

In addition to stage, a variety of other factors affect prognosis. These include histologic features such as differentiation, nuclear grade (abnormal appearance of the nucleus), lymphovascular invasion, DNA content and ploidy (the number of sets of DNA per nucleus: diploid is normal). Patient factors include age, menstrual status, family history, prior cancer, prior radiotherapy, prior chemotherapy, immunosupression and poor nutrition. Younger patients tend to have more aggressive disease, post-menopausal patients have a better prognosis. A recently identified substance – vascular endothelial growth factor – may have prognostic significance.  

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This page was last modified on 7/12/1999.