Survival of patients with untreated breast cancer.

Knowing the clinical prognosis of untreated breast cancer is useful in dealing with patients with neglected disease or in environments with poorly developed healthcare systems. This study analyzes historical survival data in two sets of untreated patients: (1) 250 patients followed until death (up to 12 years) for which autopsy results are available and (2) an amalgam of 1,022 patients from several papers. Data from nine published papers underwent actuarial analysis. Median survival time of the 250 patients followed to death was 2.7 years. Actuarial 5- and 10-year survival rates for these patients with untreated breast cancer was 18.4% and 3.6%, respectively. For the amalgamated 1,022 patients, median survival time was 2.3 years. Actuarial 5- and (partially fitted) 10-year survival rates for these patients with untreated breast cancer was 19.8% and 3.7%, respectively. Historical data of untreated breast cancer patients reveal a potential for long survival in some cases. The spectrum of clinical aggressiveness of breast cancer varies between virulence and chronic disease.