| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Several studies of survival in women with <it>BRCA1 </it>mutations have shown either reduced survival or no difference compared to controls. Programmes for early detection and treatment of inherited breast cancer, have failed to demonstrate a significant improvement in survival in <it>BRCA1 </it>mutation carriers.</p> <p>One hundred and sixty-seven women with disease-associated germline <it>BRCA1 </it>mutations and breast cancer from 1980 to 2001 were identified. Tumour characteristics, treatment given and survival were recorded. A control group comprising three hundred and four women matched for age, time of diagnosis and stage were used to compare survival.</p> <p><it>BRCA1 </it>mutation carriers were found to have a poorer prognosis, which could be explained by neither the mode of surgical treatment nor the use of adjuvant chemotherapy. <it>BRCA1 </it>mutation carriers with node negative breast cancer had worse overall survival than controls.</p> <p>Our findings confirm the serious prognosis of <it>BRCA1</it>-associated breast cancer even when diagnosed at an early stage, and that type of treatment does not influence prognosis.</p>
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