Two surgically treated series of 375 Japanese and 352 American women with breast cancer were compared with respect to overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates. Recurrence-free survival rates in Japanese women were superior to those in American women. Overall survival rates were also better in Japanese women, although the difference was not nearly as great as for recurrence-free survival. This seemed due to an improved survival after metastasis in the American women. In analyzing recurrence-free survival rates by age, we found that Japanese women 40 to 54 years old had better recurrence-free survival rates than other age subgroups. This age advantage was not observed in American women. For other age groups, there was relatively little advantage in survivorship in the Japanese series.
Bilateral adrenalectomy with radical mastectomy has been performed in a series of 17 postmenopausal women with breast cancer having metastasis in four or more axillary lymph nodes. Results to date show that both the recurrence and mortality rates are significantly lowered in this group of “high‐risk” breast cancer patients by the combined treatment. Of these 17 patients, 14 are living and well with no evidence of disease. Six are surviving without recurrence 5 or more years since their primary treatment. The study also demonstrated that adrenalectomy patients on hormone replacement therapy are able to lead full and active lives for a long time without complications. This pilot study should be considered as a guide to future clinical trials rather than as an immediate recommendation for general therapy.
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