Mortality for women with metastatic breast cancer has improved since 1990s

William Doss | | Radiology Business | Practice Management

Metastatic breast cancer is progressive and incurable, but twice as many women today are hitting the benchmark five-year survival rate as were in the early 1990s.

A study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention compared survival rates for women under 49 with newly diagnosed breast cancer from 1992 to 1994 with those who received the diagnosis from 2005 to 2012. While just 18 percent of the '90s cohort survived for five years, 36 percent of the '00s group survived—although the overall incidence of metastatic breast cancer increased.

This individual study didn’t delve into the specific explanations why, but lead author and statistician with the National Cancer Institute Angela B. Mariotto ascribes it to a combination of earlier screening and better treatment.

Read her New York Times interview by following the link below.

Women With Aggressive Breast Cancer Are Living Longer

William Doss

As a Senior Writer for TriMed Media Group, Will covers radiology practice improvement, policy, and finance. He lives in Chicago and holds a bachelor’s degree in Life Science Communication and Global Health from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He previously worked as a media specialist for the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Outside of work you might see him at one of the many live music venues in Chicago or walking his dog Holly around Lakeview.

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