Objectives: To investigate the impact of age as a prognostic factor in older patients with breast cancer and to discuss the role of surgery in this category of patients.
Design: A retrospective study.
Setting: A tertiary care university teaching hospital.
Participants: One hundred ninety patients aged 70 years or older (mean age: 75 years) were treated for breast cancer from 1967 through 1991. These patients were compared with 190 younger patients (mean age: 52 years) and matched on the basis of T and N categories (TNM staging system) and surgical procedures.
Measurements: Disease-free survival, breast cancer-specific survival.
Results: The 10-year actuarial breast cancer-specific survival was 66% for older patients and 56% for younger patients (P = .224). The 10-year actuarial disease-free survival was 54% for older patients and 45% for younger patients (P = .136). Univariate and multivariate survival analysis revealed that tumor size and nodal stage were significant prognostic factors for both older and younger patients.
Conclusion: Treatment with curative intent, similar to that adopted in younger patients, is appropriate for women over the age of 70 with breast cancer.