About 40% of breast cancers worldwide are seen in people over the age of sixty-five.
The approach to breast cancer in older age is somewhat different from breast cancer at a young age. Especially if the person has chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure or Parkinson’s disease, treatment choices change. The person’s life expectancy also affects the treatment.
Differences in Treatment
Another important criterion in the treatment of breast cancer in elderly patients is whether the patient is in menopause. A woman who enters menopause has lower estrogen levels. This is an advantageous situation, especially in hormone-sensitive cancers. Therefore, the choice of treatment is also different.
A serious problem encountered in the treatment of elderly patients is that, because of health conditions arising from old age, patients are physically not suitable for radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments.
Criteria such as the patient’s age, vitality, chronic ailments and life expectancy play a major role in the choice of treatment.
