Effects of menstural cycle on survival from breast cancer

Controversy regarding a possible link between menstrual cycle phase (follicular or luteal) at the time of surgery for breast cancer and outcome has existed for over the past 2 decades.

A majority of past information on menstrual phase has been obtained from research looking back at charted documentation of a woman's last menstrual period.  This approach is fraught with errors.  A large international collaborative study (of which the Waikato was a centre), where menstrual phase was determined by the measuring of hormonal levels in blood samples taken within one day of surgery has finally put this issue to rest.

Over 6 years of follow-up results to date, show there is no relationship between recurrence or overall survival and timing of surgery on the basis of the menstrual cycle phase for premenopausal (still having periods) women with early stage breast cancer.

So younger women (and their surgeons) can put their minds at rest over this issue!