A 5-year prospective audit of patients presenting to the Symptomatic Breast Clinic from 2001 to 2005 was conducted. All cancer diagnoses were discussed at the Breast Multidisciplinary Conference, and all clincopathological treatment details and follow-up information were entered by a full-time data manager. Overall survival was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method.
Eight hundred and thirty-nine patients were diagnosed through the clinic, 18 (2 % ) Stage 0, 169 (20 % ) Stage I, 380 (45 % ) Stage II, 142 (17 % ) Stage III, and 123 (15 % ) Stage IV. At a median follow-up of 35 months the overall 5-year survival was 71 % , with 100 % , 91 % , 83 % , 72 % , and 11 % survival for Stages 0–IV, respectively, and disease-specific survival of 82 % .
The process and outcome data are consistent with international benchmarks. These data from one designated centre support the national initiatives in Ireland to restructure breast services.