Breast Cancer Treatment Practices in Elderly Women in a Community Hospital

Abstract

Background. Elderly women with breast cancer are considered underdiagnosed and undertreated, and this adversely affects their overall survival. Methods. A total of 393 female breast cancer patients aged 70 years and older, diagnosed within the years 1989–1999, were identified from the tumor registry of The Brooklyn Hospital Center. Comparisons between the 3 different subgroups 70–74, 75–79, and 80 years and older were made using the Pearson Chi Square test. Results. Lumpectomy was performed in 42% of all patients, while mastectomy was done in 46% of patients. Adjuvant therapy such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy were done in 12%, 25%, and 38%, respectively. Forty-seven percent of patients with positive lymph nodes received chemotherapy. Eighty-six percent of patients who were estrogen receptor-positive received adjuvant hormonal therapy. Overall five-year survival was only 14% for the ≥80 age group, compared to that of 32% and 35% for the 70–74 and the 75–79 age groups, respectively. Conclusions. Surgery was performed in majority of these patients, about half received lumpectomy, the other half mastectomy. Adjuvant therapies were frequently excluded, with only hormonal therapy being the most commonly used. Overall five-year survival is significantly worse in patients ≥80 years with breast cancer.

Tumor biology in older breast cancer patients – What is the impact on survival stratified for guideline adherence? A retrospective multi-centre cohort study of 5378 patients

“…Some authors found lower mastectomy rates in oBCP [2,5] whilst others found it increased [1,20,22,35] including larger epidemiological studies [36,37]. An informed consent has been shown to increase the compliance and patient satisfaction [38].…”

Breast diseases in women over the age of 65 in Monastir, Tunisia

“…Surgery is still the cornerstone in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer. Several studies have shown that breast conservation surgery followed by radiation therapy is as effective as more extensive surgery options such as mastectomy [21]. Nevertheless, some studies suggest that elderly women are less likely to be offered breast conservation surgery than their younger counterparts [22, 23].…”

Health Care Maintenance of Saudi Elderly Women in Outpatient Clinics

“…Mammography for Breast cancer screening requested for 12.80 % of patients. Studies have shown that around 50% of patients with breast cancer are those older than 65 years of age and 35% are older than 70 years (33) . There are very few retrospective and prospective studies looking specifically at cancer screening in the elderly.…”