Early stage of breast cancer requires no treatment: study

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Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, and because of this most women opt to get treated with the slightest sign of cancer detection, usually in the form of ductal carcinoma in situ. However, a new study questions the importance of treatment in stage 0 breast cancer after it has discovered no significance in the outcome later on.

US Health News reports that based on the research conducted at the Women's College Research Institute in Canada, only three percent will not die in 20 years after being diagnosed with early breast cancer. No matter what kind of aggressive treatment is done, this percentage is not predicted to change at all. Lead study author Steven Narod, director at the familial breast cancer research unit, said at least this result has confirmed that death is rare after getting diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer.

Stage 0 breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a small cluster of cancer cells localized in one area of the breast and can often be detected in mammogram screenings. This type of cancer makes up almost 20 to 25 percent of all diagnosed breast cancer in the US. It is non-invasive and mostly stays in its original position until removed by treatment.

The team has analyzed the data collected from 100,000 women, which they followed for 20 years. They have discovered that radiology or other treatment for DCIS has not eliminated breast cancer after ten years, The New York Times writes. Furthermore, after the duration of the study, 97 percent did not die from the disease even after treatment has been done.

The findings have led others to debate on the formidable question as to whether they should consider DCIS as cancer, a precursor, or just a risk factor. Most experts, including the researchers, believe that no change should be done on the current approach for DCIS.

However, Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, said he does not believe DCIS should be considered as a cancer, and sees aggressive treatment as unnecessary, adds USA Today. He added the new study only signifies that doctors should work further to get the right assessment done to identify if what kind of treatment should be given to reduce mortality.

Dr. Brawley said that if diagnosis has been done during the earliest stage of the cancer and aggressive treatment has been suggested immediately, women are only given more stress to cause them anxiety and panic over something that can be considered as a risk factor and not even cancer yet.

The study has been published in the JAMA Oncology journal.