Figure 5.

Absolute reduction in 15-year risk of breast cancer death with radiotherapy (RT) after breast-conserving surgery versus absolute reduction in 10-year risk of any (locoregional or distant) recurrence

Women with pN0 disease are subdivided by the predicted absolute reduction in 10-year risk of any recurrence suggested by regression modelling (pN0-large ≥20%, pN0-intermediate 10–19%, pN0-lower <10%; further details are in webappendix pp 35–39). Vertical lines are 95% CIs. Sizes of dark boxes are proportional to amount of information. Dashed line: one death from breast cancer avoided for every four recurrences avoided. pN0=pathologically node-negative. pN+=pathologically node-positive.