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Earlier diagnosis identified as key reason why more US women than Europeans survive breast cancer

December 18, 2003

The main reason why women diagnosed with breast cancer in the USA have higher survival than those in Europe is that they are diagnosed at an earlier stage, according to findings published today.

Previous studies have shown that women in the US have higher breast cancer survival rates than women in Europe but, until now, scientists have been unable to pinpoint the reasons, suggesting that differences in treatment and access to healthcare might be a factor, but with little supporting evidence.

In order to investigate further, an international team of researchers, including Professor Michel Coleman, Professor of Epidemiology and Vital Statistics at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, analysed population-based data from 4,478 women included in the EUROCARE study (which examines cancer survival trends across Europe) and 13,182 women recorded in the US National Cancer Institute's SEER program from 1990-1992. Their findings will be published in the 15 February 2004 issue of CANCER, and also appear today on Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com/cancer).

Significantly more early-stage tumours were found among US women (41%) than among European women (29%). Elderly women in the USA were even more likely than younger women to be diagnosed at an early stage (43% of those aged 65 or more compared to 38% of under-65s). The opposite was true in Europe, where early-stage tumours were more common in younger women - 31% of under-65s and 25% of older women). Finally, overall 5-year survival was significantly higher among women in the USA than in Europe (89 per cent versus 79 per cent).

Professor Michel Coleman commented: 'These findings reveal the urgent need to allocate more resources to ensure earlier diagnosis of breast cancer in Europe'.

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)




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