Managing breast cancer in the older patient.

ABSTRACT: Breast cancer is a disease that is associated with aging, with almost one-half of all new breast cancer cases diagnosed annually in the United States occurring in women ages 65 and older. Recent data suggest that although breast cancer outcomes in younger women have shown substantial improvement as a result of advances in treatment and screening, the benefits in older women have been less pronounced. Although older patients have been underrepresented in cancer clinical trials, there is an emerging body of literature to help guide treatment decisions. For early-stage breast cancer, the discussion regarding treatment options involves balancing the reduction in risk of recurrence gained by specific therapies with the potential for increased treatment-related toxicity, potentially exacerbated

SUBMITTER: O'Connor T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3906632 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature