Breast cancer and preceding clinical benign breast disorders. A chance association.

A review of 1059 patients seen in office consultation from 1970 to 1975 for breast disorders revealed that patients with clinically benign disorders were six times as numerous as those with breast cancer. Only 11% of patients with breast cancer had had a previous benign breast-biopsy specimen and on average they were 20 years older than the peak age for benign clinical disease. Of the 163 patients with a previous benign breast-biopsy specimen only 14 (9%) had breast cancer compared with 13% in women without such a history. It is concluded that clinical benign breast disorders do not predispose patients to cancer, and such women should not be singled out for special study.