Temporal Trends in Breast Cancer Survival in Sweden: Significant Improvement in 20 Years2

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Abstract
Of all women with a newly diagnosed breast cancer diagnosed in 1960–78 in Sweden, 57,068 (98%) were included in a complete follow-up during 1–19 years of observation. The 5-year mortality attributable to breast cancer was reduced by 29% from the period 1960–64 to 1975–78, which corresponded to an increase in relative survival by 10.5% (95% confidence limits, 7.2 and 13.8). There was a highly significant and regular trend during the study period toward a decrease in the annual hazard rate; this was confined to the first 4–5 years after diagnosis. The temporal trend toward improved survival was apparent in all age groups, but it was of lower magnitude among women younger than 45 years old.