Study finds breast cancer survival increases with early diagnosis and treatment

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A recent Cleveland Clinic study found that breast cancer survival increased when treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, was completed within 38 weeks of the initial diagnosis.

“Most of the original time process The study looked at individual aspects of care. So what was the time frame, the time from diagnosis to treatment, and the time between different treatments, but no studies were found that looked at the time from diagnosis to completion of all treatments, “said Debraplat. .. MD, chest Cleveland Clinic Specialist and Lead Author of Research.

She said they saw over 28,000 Breast cancer patients People who have had surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy as part of their treatment. They found a high 5-year survival rate if all three were completed within 38 weeks.

However, longer treatments affected their survival.

Dr. Pratt said the information was based on a previous study that pointed to poor outcomes when treatment was delayed. He also emphasized the need to identify why treatment is delayed in some cases.

“Another interesting aspect of that cutoff was that it was suitable for any type of breast. cancer Different breast cancer receptor patterns did not make a difference, “she said. If it takes too long, you will get results. ”

Regarding detection, Dr. Pratt said women should have regular self-breast examinations at home. Mammograms are also recommended for women over the age of 40, regardless of whether they have a family history of breast cancer.