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World Journal of Surgery
Published in: World Journal of Surgery 10/2010

Open Access 01-10-2010

Is Breast Cancer the Same Disease in Asian and Western Countries?

Authors: Stanley P. L. Leong, Zhen-Zhou Shen, Tse-Jia Liu, Gaurav Agarwal, Tomoo Tajima, Nam-Sun Paik, Kerstin Sandelin, Anna Derossis, Hiram Cody, William D. Foulkes

Published in: World Journal of Surgery | Issue 10/2010

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Abstract

A mini-symposium was held in Montreal, Canada, at the International Surgical Week for the Breast Surgical International in 2007 addressing the question whether breast cancer is the same disease in Asian and Western countries. Numerous investigators from Asian and Western countries presented the epidemiologic and clinical outcome data of women with breast cancer. Although there are significant similarities, the striking difference is that the peak age for breast cancer is between 40 and 50 years in the Asian countries, whereas the peak age in the Western countries is between 60 and 70 years. Also, the incidence of breast cancer in Asia is rising and is associated with increased mortality. In the West, although the incidence is increasing, the mortality rate is definitely decreasing. Future prospective data collection from Asian and Western countries may provide further interesting epidemiologic and outcome data regarding the outcome of women with breast cancer from Asian and Western countries.

Background

Whether breast cancer is the same disease in Asian and Western countries was the topic of a 2007 Breast Surgery International symposium at International Surgical Week.

Methods

Participating investigators from China, Taiwan, India, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Canada, and the United States were asked beforehand to provide data on the epidemiology and treatment outcome of women in their countries.

Results

Comparisons of the epidemiologic and clinical outcome data of women with breast cancer showed significant similarities, but the striking difference is that the peak age is between 40 and 50 years in Asian countries, but is between 60 and 70 years in Western countries. The incidence of breast cancer in Asia is rising and is associated with increased mortality. In the West, although the incidence is also increasing, the mortality rate is definitely decreasing.

Discussion

Future prospective data collection from Asian and Western countries may provide further interesting epidemiologic and outcome data regarding the outcome of women with breast cancer from Asian and Western countries.
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Metadata
Title
Is Breast Cancer the Same Disease in Asian and Western Countries?
Authors
Stanley P. L. Leong
Zhen-Zhou Shen
Tse-Jia Liu
Gaurav Agarwal
Tomoo Tajima
Nam-Sun Paik
Kerstin Sandelin
Anna Derossis
Hiram Cody
William D. Foulkes
Publication date
01-10-2010
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
World Journal of Surgery / Issue 10/2010
Print ISSN: 0364-2313
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2323
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-010-0683-1

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