DOD-BCR: Lateral lesions associated with better survival rate in breast cancer ORLANDO, FL -- September 30, 2002 -- Analysis of data from a Danish breast cancer registry of 35,319 women indicates that women who have breast tumors located on the upper lateral quadrant of the have a 15 to 20 percent better survival rate than women who have medial or central lesions and the farther the tumor is from the axilla the worse the prognosis, according to a study presented Thursday at the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Meeting. Mads Melbyer, PhD of the department of epidemiology research, Statens Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark said the survival difference remained the same regardless of tumor grade or metastatic state. "We don't really know how to explain this difference. Except that we can say this: these findings tell us that for many women we should be able to do better," Dr. Melbye said in an interview. Dennis Slamon, MD, PhD chief division of hematology-oncology, UCLA Medical Center and director of the Revlon/UCLA Women's Cancer Research Program, said the finding was "surprising, but undeniable. This is a population study with huge numbers, so this is real." But he added that the study "needs to be replicated in another large population study-perhaps another study from one of the Scandinavian countries-before we can start guessing at the biology behind it." Nonetheless, Dr. Slamon suggested that the differences may be due to "hemodynamic differences in the medial region or to differences in the tumor biology." [10/01/2002; Doctor's Guide] Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.