'Early Diagnosis + Treatment Advances'... Breast Cancer Surgery 5-Year Survival Rate Exceeds 95%

Seoul Asan Medical Center Analyzes Over 10,000 Surgeries from 2008 to 2013
2.7 Percentage Point Increase Compared to 2000-2007
2 out of 3 Patients Undergo High-Difficulty Breast-Conserving Surgery... "Active Treatment is Important"

Professor Lee Saebyeol (second from the right) of the Breast Surgery Department at Asan Medical Center in Seoul is performing surgery on a breast cancer patient.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] With the increase in early diagnosis and advancements in treatment methods, the outcomes of breast cancer treatment in South Korea have continuously improved. At Seoul Asan Medical Center, the 5-year survival rate of patients who underwent breast cancer surgery has exceeded 95%.

The Breast Surgery Department at Seoul Asan Medical Center announced on the 16th that, after long-term observation and analysis of treatment outcomes for over 10,000 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery between 2008 and 2013, the 5-year survival rate after breast cancer surgery was 95.3%.

This figure represents a 2.7 percentage point increase compared to 92.6% during 2000 to 2007. During the same period, the proportion of patients who did not experience breast cancer recurrence within 5 years also rose from 87.9% to 91.2%.

This study analyzed changes in breast cancer survival rates and contributing factors by dividing 17,776 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery at Seoul Asan Medical Center from January 2000 to December 2013 into two periods: 2000?2007 (7,066 patients) and 2008?2013 (10,710 patients). Survival rates, recurrence rates, cancer progression, treatment methods, and detailed subtypes were examined according to the time of surgery.

The proportion of patients with the smallest breast cancer size, ductal carcinoma in situ, increased from 9.3% to 11%, and cases with no axillary lymph node metastasis rose from 63.7% to 67%. Additionally, as Westernized lifestyles became more common, the proportion of breast cancer subtypes known for relatively higher survival rates?hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer?increased from 51.4% to 59.4%, while the proportions of other subtypes decreased.

The number of patients undergoing advanced breast-conserving surgery, which removes only the cancerous part to preserve breast shape as much as possible, also significantly increased from 44.7% to 66.7%. Breast-conserving surgery can maximize patients’ quality of life but carries a risk of cancer recurrence, requiring careful consideration. The continuous advancement of surgical techniques, increased early cancer diagnosis, and the growing use of preoperative chemotherapy to reduce tumor size before surgery are believed to have contributed to the rise in patients receiving breast-conserving surgery.

Professor Lee Sae-byeol of the Breast Surgery Department at Seoul Asan Medical Center stated, “The increase in early diagnosis due to advancements in breast cancer diagnostic technology and the national screening system, as well as progress in targeted therapies, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation therapy, are factors contributing to the rise in survival rates. Although treatment methods and outcomes vary by breast cancer subtype, ongoing improvements in treatment technology mean that patients who approach treatment positively and proactively can achieve good results.”

The results of this study were published in the international academic journal PLoS One (IF=3.24).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.