Three  years after the diagnosis of breast cancer the hazard rate rises and later on it declines . This rise is attributed to treatment and  it is assumed  here that since the  woman depends somehow on her tumor its  removal initiates the  rising hazard. This phenomenon is observed also in female genital cancers where it is augmented by irradiation.

Data source

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database: Incidence - SEER 9 Regs Public-Use, Nov 2004 Sub (1973-2002), National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, Cancer Statistics Branch, released April 2005, based on the November 2004 submission.

Results

The hazard rate of not irradiated women follows the bi-modal pattern described in the previous study, and it is augmented by radiation. This radiation effect provides additional and independent support for the present hypothesis that the cancer patient depends on her tumor. Since radiation destroys the tumor more efficiently than other treatments the post radiation hazard is higher then in non irradiated women.

Legend: nR = number of  irradiated. nN  = number of not-irradiated

The hazard in non irradiated prostate cancer patients is bi-modal. In irradiated patients the hazard is initially low and rises slowly. due to the late effects of radiation since it destroys healthy tissues in the vicinity of the irradiated organ.

Conclusions

These computations provide additional and independent support for the hypothesis that the woman with cancer depends on her tumor. Irradiation of female genital cancers is not advised.