[Five-year survival and prognostic factors in women with breast cancer in Santa Catarina State, Brazil].

The aim of this study was to analyze breast cancer survival and associated factors, based on a historical cohort of women with breast cancer diagnosis from 2000 to 2002 recorded in the hospital cancer registries at the Santa Catarina Center for Cancer Research and the Irmandade Nosso Senhor dos Passos Charity Hospital, both located in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The statistical analysis used the Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox model. Overall five-year survival was 76.2% (95%CI: 73.6-78.9). Independent factors associated with increased risk of death were age less than 30 years (hazard ratio - HR = 3.09; 95%CI: 1.25-7.67); illiteracy (HR = 3.70; 95%CI: 1.44-9.55); and stages III (HR = 5.27; 95%CI: 2.56-10.82) and IV (HR = 14.07; 95%CI: 6.81-29.06). Young women had the worst survival rates. There were also many women diagnosed in advanced stages, with worse survival, thus demonstrating the need for early diagnostic measures.