Causes of Death Among Long-Term Survivors From Breast Cancer in Connecticut

Among 4,100 5-year survivors from breast cancer, 1,456 deaths occurred during a period of follow-up ranging from 5 to 20 years after diagnosis. Mortality was analyzed by the life table method and compared with expected (general population) experience. The ratio of observed-to-expected mortality from breast cancer for the patients who died 5 to 10 years after diagnosis was 40:1. This ratio diminished to 26:1 and 16:1 during the succeeding two 5-year intervals. The observed mortality from cancers other than breast cancer exceeded expectation, though to a far lesser degree, with endometrial and ovarian cancer showing the greatest excess; the mortality ratio for the latter two causes was no greater than 3:1. For each of three noncancer groups of death, i.e., arteriosclerotic heart disease, other cardiovascularrenal diseases, and all other causes, there were fewer deaths than expected.