The Declining Prestige of ‘Fear of Breast Cancer’: Impact of Early Screening and Therapeutic Development
June 26, 2023 08:45
By Kim Bong-soo, Correspondent
Angelina Jolie [Image Source: Angelina Jolie Instagram]
The fear surrounding breast cancer is diminishing as advancements in early screening and treatment techniques have significantly reduced the mortality rate. This revelation comes amid improved social awareness and the development of breast plastic surgery techniques to minimize side effects. A recent study in the United Kingdom has shed light on this fact, showing a one-third reduction in the death rate of breast cancer patients over the past two decades. While Korea still has a lower death rate than the UK, the incidence of breast cancer is on the rise due to the recent westernization of diet and lifestyle habits.
A research team from Oxford University in the UK published a study in the international journal Nature on the 23rd, showcasing the significant drop in breast cancer mortality rates over a 20-year period. The team analyzed data from the UK’s National Cancer Registry and Analysis Service, studying 512,447 female breast cancer patients between 1993 and 2015. The mortality rates within five years of screening up until December 2020 were examined. Breast cancer has historically had a high mortality rate within five years of diagnosis, which tends to decrease thereafter. The study found that the death rate of breast cancer patients has significantly declined over time. For women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1993 and 1999, the five-year mortality rate stood at 14.4%. However, it has steadily decreased, reaching a rate of only 4.9% for patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2015. Age and early screening were not significant variables, as mortality rates fell in all age groups among both screened and unscreened women.
The exact cause for this dramatic decline in breast cancer deaths is yet to be determined. However, the increased awareness surrounding breast cancer in the UK since the 1990s, along with the expansion of regular pre-examination services, has contributed to this positive trend. Additionally, the development of surgical, chemical, and plastic surgery techniques has improved treatment options, leading to higher social awareness and active treatment.
The research team predicts that the current death rate of breast cancer patients remains similar. “The prognosis for women with breast cancer has significantly improved since the 1990s, so long-term survival can be expected for most patients,” stated the research team.
Meanwhile, breast cancer continues to surge in Korea. Since 2016, it has ranked as the most prevalent cancer among women. The incidence has increased by 112.1% between 2010 and 2020. Contributing factors include prolonged exposure to female hormones (such as early menarche and late menopause) and a growing number of women with no history of childbirth or lactation. Advanced age, lack of childbirth, and alcohol consumption also pose as risk factors for breast cancer. However, the survival rate remains high, with a relative five-year survival rate of 98% for localized cases and 90% for cases that have spread. Korea ranks among the top countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for breast cancer survival rates.
Kim Bong-soo, Correspondent
input2023.06.25 08:05
correction2023.06.26 08:45
clock iconReading time 1 minute 6 seconds
The prestige of ‘fear of breast cancer’ is waning
Early screening – the impact of therapeutic development
UK death rate cut by a third in 20 years
Breast cancer is a fear for women. In 2013, world famous star actress Angelina Jolie even revealed that she had a mastectomy due to her family history. However, with the recent development of screening and early treatment techniques, the mortality rate has decreased, and its prestige is waning. Social awareness has improved and breast plastic surgery has also developed, reducing side effects. A recent UK study revealed this fact. The death rate of breast cancer patients has fallen by a third in 20 years. Although Korea has a lower death rate than the UK, it is worth noting that the incidence of breast cancer is on the rise due to the recent westernization of diet and habits.
Angelina Jolie [이미지출처=안젤리나 졸리 인스타그램]
A research team from Oxford University in the UK published a research paper like this in the international journal Nature on the 23rd (local time). Over the past 20 years, more than 500,000 breast cancer patients have been followed, and the mortality rate has dropped significantly from around 15% to around 5%.
The research team used data from the UK’s National Cancer Registry and Analysis Service to study 512,447 female patients with breast cancer between 1993 and 2015, followed by mortality rates within five years of screening up to December 2020. Cancer has the breast has a high mortality rate 5 years after diagnosis and tends to decrease thereafter. As a result, it was found that the death rate of breast cancer patients has decreased significantly over time. For women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1993 and 1999, the 5-year mortality rate reached 14.4%. However, it declined over time. Between 2010 and 2015, the mortality rate for breast cancer patients was only 4.9%. Age and early screening were not variables. Mortality rates fell in all age groups of the women surveyed, both those diagnosed early through screening and those not diagnosed.
The cause of this dramatic drop in deaths is not yet clear. However, breast cancer awareness has increased in the UK since the 1990s, and the provision of regular pre-examination services has expanded. In addition, techniques such as surgical and chemical treatment methods and plastic surgery have been developed, and social awareness has improved, leading to active treatment.
The research team expects the death rate of breast cancer patients to be similar these days. “The prognosis of women with breast cancer has improved significantly since the 1990s, so most patients can be expected to become cancer survivors in the long term,” said the research team.
Meanwhile, breast cancer is increasing rapidly in Korea. Since 2016, it has remained at the top among major cancers among women. It rose 112.1% between 2010 and 2020. The causes include a longer period of exposure to female hormones (early menarche and the end of menstruation) and an increasing number of women who have no history of childbirth or lactation. Old age, childbirth, and alcohol are also risk factors for breast cancer. However, the survival rate is high. As of 2019, the relative 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is 98% when it has not spread to other organs and 90% when it has spread. It is at the top of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.
Correspondent Kim Bong-soo bskim@asiae.co.kr
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