Survival advantage differences by age. Evaluation of the extended follow-up of the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project.

Abstract

This study considers breast cancer survival patterns by age group among women diagnosed in the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project (BCDDP) to provide insight into the nature of breast cancer and suggest a possible explanation as to why the results of the randomized clinical trials differ for women younger than 50 and those 50 or older. Based on the findings of several randomized clinical trials, there is a general consensus that breast cancer screening provides a significant benefit for women aged 50-69. From these trials, there is little evidence of a short term benefit and uncertainty regarding any long term benefit of mammographic screening for women aged 40-49.