SURVIVAL AFTER MASTECTOMY

To the Editor:— In the article "Survival of Patients with Carcinoma of the Breast" by Drs. Small and Dutton inThe Journalfor Jan. 15, 1955, page 216, it was stated, "Analysis of survivals of patients with carcinoma of the breast... indicates that it is doubtful if many more persons are cured by radical mastectomy than by other forms of treatment." Other statements were made which inferred that surgery was even worse than this. In this article there were graphs that revealed that, in patients aged 71 and over who had surgery, approximately 55% lived five years. In this same age group, of those who did not have surgery approximately 25% lived five years. It would seem to me more reasonable to give a patient a 55% chance to live five years after having surgery rather than a 25% chance without surgery. This same difference of percentages between operative and