Five-Year Survival in Patients Operated on for Breast Cancer in Cienfuegos

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer, according to the World Health Organization, has become the most diagnosed cancer in the world, surpassing even lung cancer. Cuba has high incidence and mortality rates of this type of cancer. To address this situation, its public health system has implemented a national program for early detection and treatment whose main objective is to achieve greater survival of such patients.

Objective: To determine the 5-year survival of patients operated on for breast cancer in the province of Cienfuegos.

Methods: A study was carried out of the 5-year survival in patients operated on for breast cancer in the triennium 2013-2015, developed using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method through calculation of survival exposed by means of tables and graphs. The universe was made up of all the patients operated on in that triennium. The variables studied were age, sex, skin color, affected breast, location, histological type, surgical technique, degree of social reintegration and status 5 years after surgery.

Results: The highest survival was observed among the patients aged 50-70 years, with tumor in the left breast and located in the lower inner quadrant, of histological type of an infiltrating ductal carcinoma, and those who underwent radical mastectomies.

Conclusions: 77.3% of the studied patients reported 5-year survival. This percentage is comparable to that reported in highly developed countries. This result is mostly associated to diagnosis in early stages of the disease and to the application of radical surgery.