Outcomes following pre-invasive breast cancer
Two landmark studies, carried out in conjunction with NHS England, have examined the long-term outcomes following ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is the commonest form of pre-invasive breast cancer.
The first one examined data on 35,000 women whose DCIS was detected via the NHS breast screening programme. It showed that the risk of dying from breast cancer was similar to that for women in the general population for about five years after diagnosis of DCIS. But, after that, the risk increased and the 20-year risk of death from breast cancer was twice that of women in the general population.
The second study looked at data on 27,000 women whose disease was not screen-detected and showed that the risk of mortality from breast cancer were even higher.
These studies have important implications for the management of patients with DCIS in the future.
Members of the team meet members of the patient advocate organisation EuropaDonna
These results, and our planned future work in carcinoma in situ, were discussed with members of the patient advocate organisation, EuropaDonna in October 2024. EuropaDonna works to raise awareness of breast cancer. Its aims are to improve breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment and increased funding for research.
This study was awarded the 2020 Office for National Statistics Research Excellence prize.