Treatment of breast cancer in elderly patients

The objective of this study was to analyze the treatment and its results in breast cancer of the elderly. Special attention was given to the primary treatment with tamoxifen alone. We reviewed 210 patients over 70 years old with breast cancer treated between 1980 and 1992. Mean follow-up time was 41 months. Tamoxifen was given as primary treatment in 34 patients without distant metastases; 147 patients without distant metastases underwent surgery. Local or regional recurrence occurred in 6% of the patients who had surgery. Local progressive disease was reported in 27% of those treated with tamoxifen (P < 0.005). These patients had further surgery. There was no difference between the two groups in overall survival of patients and occurrence of metastases. We concluded that optimal treatment of breast cancer in the elderly should include surgery. Only patients with very limited life expectancy should receive tamoxifen alone.