title: Breast-cancer in the elderly - detection and treatment modalities in 341 women.
abstract: Elderly cancer patients are generally excluded from entry to clinical trials;and often managed inadequately or based on individual experience. We have retrospectively determined tumor detection modality, diagnostic and staging work-up, delay in referral and therapeutic approaches in 341 women with breast cancer aged over 70 years. Fifty-eight per cent of patients were in the 70-75 group of age. Our data suggest that tumor is detected during medical visit or hospitalization for reasons other than breast cancer in 63.1% elderly women with 74.1% of tumors diagnosed on stage I+II disease; the interval between patient's awareness of a breast nodule and first diagnostic and/or therapeutic intervention was less than 3 months in 51.4% and between 3 and 6 months in 20.7% of patients. Most of our patients received adequate treatment although in 18.6%, 26.8% and 18.2% of stage Il, III and IV respectively systemic treatment was not administered after surgery. A large proportion (22.3%) of patients received Halsted mastectomy and only 11.1% conservative surgery. We suggest breast examination should be encouraged, screening program should be extended after the age of 70 years and systemic treatment should be evaluated in elderly patients.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Repetto
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miglietta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Queirolo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cannata
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gardin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guido
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campora
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boccardo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosso