Breast Cancer in Elderly
Breast cancer risk increases with age and 1/3rd of the female breast cancers are diagnosed older than 65 years old.
Presentation, Diagnosis, Investigation
- Breast lump, pain, skin changes.
- MMG and Breast Ultrasound assessment
- US guided core biopsy
- Staging CT scan whole body
Difference in Management of Breast Cancer for the Elderly would be because of
- Increased comorbid diseases like heart diseases,
- Increase chronic diseases like diabetes, pulmonary diseases
- Generalized weakness
- Mental health state
Treatment
- If fit for surgery – recommended total mastectomy over lumpectomy
- Use of Chemotherapy will depend on the overall fitness of the elderly
- Hormonal treatment is usually a safer option if the cancer is hormone-positive breast cancer.
Approach to Management in Elderly is Multifactorial
- Patient co-morbidities and diseases
- Performance status
- Quality of life
- Lower life expectancy