The curability of breast cancer

Results are presented of a long-term follow-up of patients with breast cancer seen in the Cambridge area from 1947 to 1950. After 21 years the survival curve of the breast-cancer patients runs parallel to the expected survival curve of a similar normal population. This suggests that 18% of all the breast-cancer patients may be regarded as cured of their disease in the sense defined by Easson and Russell. An analysis of the causes of death in the study group after 20 years' follow-up shows an excess of deaths from breast cancer. The number is 16 times more than would be expected in the normal population, although the overall death-rates in the two groups are the same. This questions the concept of cure.