Adjuvant therapies for very young women with early stage breast cancer.
Approximately 16,000-19,000 women aged ≤ 45 are diagnosed annually with breast cancer in the United States and thousands more are diagnosed worldwide. Compared to older women, young women are more likely to have cancers with aggressive tumor biology and present with higher stage disease, both of which likely lead to their worse outcomes. We review the available evidence for adjuvant systemic therapy as well as treatment considerations for younger women with breast cancer. Although we have begun to appreciate the issues that younger women with breast cancer face, we need a better understanding of how we can optimally prevent disease recurrence while carefully considering their unique physical and emotional needs with regard to diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
Harvard Medical School, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA. rafreedman@partners.org
Rachel A
RA
Freedman
Ann H
AH
Partridge
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017697:Premenopause / Q000187:drug effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal