High Pre-Operative Oestrogen Levels Do Not Improve Survival After     Breast Cancer Surgery     [04/23/2001; Doctor's Guide] It is false to suppose that the oestradiol level before breast cancer surgery is independently associated with survival. "Our data refute the notion that pre-operative oestrogen levels per se should govern the prognosis," declare surgeons at University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. They point out that only women with the highest oestrogen levels have a tendency for improved prognosis. Moreover, this pattern is not apparent in pre-menopausal women. The researchers note that several clinical observations support the hypothesis that female hormones at the time of treatment affect prognosis in breast cancer. These observations were made during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, when high oestradiol levels are high. However, few studies have information on pre-operative hormone plasma levels. The researchers studied a population-based cohort of 774 women whose oestradiol levels and follicle-stimulating hormones had been measured one to two days before breast cancer surgery. In all, 5434 person-years were observed. The end point was death with breast cancer as the registered underlying or contributory cause. There were 199 deaths in all (41 pre-menopausal, 158 postmenopausal). Date and cause of death data were drawn from the Swedish Cancer Register ------------------------------------------------------------ 2) ABSTRACT: Pre-operative oestradiol levels - relation to survival     in breast cancer     [04/23/2001; European Journal of Surgical Oncology] Aims: There are clinical observations that operation during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (with high oestradiol levels) may positively influence prognosis in breast cancer. However, few studies have information on plasma levels of hormones pre-operatively. Conclusions: When oestradiol was analysed in categorized form, only women with the highest levels had a tendency for improved prognosis (RH around 0.7; not statistically significant). Moreover, this pattern was not apparent for pre-menopausal women. Our findings contradict the notion that the pre-operative oestradiol level is independently associated with breast cancer prognosis. 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.