A comparison of the characteristics, treatment and outcome after 5 years, of Australian women aged 70+ with those aged <70 years at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Management of older women with breast cancer (BC) is challenging, as age-related comorbidities may limit treatment. We present 5-year follow-up data from women aged 70 years or older (70+), at the time of diagnosis of their BC, compared with younger women (<70 years).


METHODS
Data is from an Australian cohort study of women with their first episode of invasive BC (Bupa study). Participants completed an enrollment questionnaire (EQ) within 12 months of diagnosis and annual follow-up questionnaires (FQ) for 5 years (FQ1-5). Data collected included details of the BC and its treatment. Psychological wellbeing was measured by the Psychological General Wellbeing Index (PGWB).


RESULTS
At diagnosis, 274 (16%) women were aged 70+ and of them, 90% were aged 70-79 years. Compared with women aged <70 years, the women aged 70+ were less likely to have positive nodes, they were less likely to receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy and were more likely to have pre-existing cardiovascular morbidities. By FQ5 women aged 70+ were less likely to be taking oral adjuvant endocrine therapy (OAET) and were more likely to have died from causes other than BC. At FQ5, women 70+ reported less anxiety and better self-control.


CONCLUSIONS
Women aged 70+, compared to <70 years, had less advanced disease, received radiation and chemotherapy less often, were more likely to have cardiovascular disease at the time of diagnosis, were less likely to be taking OAET at the 5-year assessment, and were more likely to die of causes other than breast cancer.
Women's Health Research Program, Monash University, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
Mary
M
Panjari
Women's Health Research Program, Monash University, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
Penelope J
PJ
Robinson
Women's Health Research Program, Monash University, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
Susan R
SR
Davis
Central Clinical School, Monash University, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC 3004 Australia and Alfred Health Commercial Rd Melbourne VIC 3004 Australia.
Max
M
Schwarz
Women's Health Research Program, Monash University, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. Electronic address: robin.bell@monash.edu.
Robin J
RJ
Bell
D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Breast cancer; Elderly; Psychological wellbeing; Quality of life; Treatment