Surgical management of breast cancer in the elderly patient

Background: Breast cancer in the older woman is a major health issue and th erapeutic challenge. This study asked if presentation, surgical treatment, and outcome of breast cancer are different in elderly women compared with t heir younger counterparts. Methods: There were 816 women < 70 years (younger) and 190 greater than or equal to 70 years (older) treated surgically for breast carcinoma between J anuary 1992 and April 2000. Data for younger and older patients was analyze d from our prospective database. Results: More older women had mammographic lesions (P <0.006). Breast conse rvation was the treatment of choice for both groups. Stage, tumor size, his tology and disease-specific survival were similar for both. There was no ev idence of disease in 93% of cases in the < 70 years group at median follow- up of 38.4 months and 91% for the greater than or equal to 70 years group a t 44.5 months. Conclusions: In our population the presentation, surgical treatment, and su rvival from breast cancer is similar in older and younger women. (C) 2001 E xcerpta Medica, Inc. All rights reserved.