Adjuvant treatment for breast cancer in the elderly

Eighty one patients with breast cancer stages I, II and III (T3a) were given adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen (Nolvadex), chemotherapy, or both. Most patients had estrogen and progesterone receptors measurement. Twenty one (63.6%) patients of the tamoxifen group were node positive, all 25 (100%) of the chemotherapy plus tamoxifen group and 13 (56.5%) of the chemotherapy alone group. Tamoxifen was administered for at least 3 years. Disease free survival and overall survival were substantially similar after treatment with tamoxifen or chemotherapy plus tamoxifen. Side effects were more numerous and severe in patients given chemotherapy. In receptor positive elderly breast cancer patients tamoxifen represents an excellent adjuvant therapy independently of disease stage. Chemotherapy should be reserved for subjects at high risk of recurrence in controlled clinical trials.