Abstract

PURPOSE
There is still much controversy about the prognosis of breast cancer developed in young women compared with old women. We performed this study to evaluate the pragnosis of the breast cancer in young women.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From 1985 to 1994, 1189 women received opetaticms for breast cancers at Severance Hospital. The study group included patients less than 36 years old who had unilateral, invasive and primary operable breast eancers (N=158). The control groups included patients between 36 and 50 years old (N=518) and those between 51 and 65 years old (N=269) who had the same conditions as the study group. The 5-year survival and 5-year disease-free survival rate for three groups were compared using Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank method. To evaluate the age as an independent prognostic factor in premenopausal women Coxs proportional hazard model was used.
RESULT
The overall 5-year survival rate and 5-year disease-free survival rate ot the study group were significantly lower than those of control groups (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in 5-year survival and S-year disease free survival between the two control groups. The Coxs propotional hazard model analysis revealed that the stage is the most important prognostic factor and the age was also an independent prognostic factor.
CONCLUSION
The prognosis of breast cancer less than 36 year old was poorer than that of 36-51 year old and 51-65 year old, suggesting that the age may be an independent prognostic factor in premenopausal women. More aggessive adjuvant treatment is required for breast cancer patients less than 36 year old of age.

• Keywords: Breast cancer;Young women