Correlation between timing of surgery in relation to the menstrual cycle and prognosis of premenopausal breast cancer patients

The timing of surgery in relation to menstrual phase might affect the progress of disease in premenopausal women with operable breast cancer. In the present study, the records were examined of 28 such cases treated between 1990 and 1999, and compared for recurrence-free survival with reference to the phases of the menstrual cycle defined by Hrushesky and Senie. During the follow-up period, breast cancer relapse occurred in five patients, and one patient died of another disease unconnected with recurrent breast cancer. The recurrence rate was not significantly different between two phases classified by either Hrushesky or Senie. However, patients with early-stage breast cancer operated during the perimenstrual phase and those with advanced breast cancer which was resected during the peri-ovulatory phase appeared to have a better prognosis than patients operated on during the other phases. Since the prognosis for breast cancer patients is dependent not only on the menstrual cycle but also on many other factors, it is concluded that the menstrual cycle cannot constitute an absolute prognostic factor. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.