Study of clinical characteristics of breast cancer among women older than 70 years

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology , Cancer Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology , Cancer Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 General Practitioner, Cancer Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

4 M.Sc. in Statistics, Cancer Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

5 Resident, Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology , Cancer Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. 35% of breast cancer is reported in women older than 70 years. This study was performed with aim to evaluate the clinical characteristics of breast cancer among women above 70 years.
Methods: In this multi-central, retrospective and descriptive study, 2723 files of women with breast cancer referred to Mashhad Omid hospital and Reza Radiation oncology centre from 2001 to 2012 were evaluated. All the necessary data about age, family history, tumour pathology, clinical stage of tumour, hormone receptor status, Her2 protein status, type of surgery and type of adjuvant therapy ( radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy ) were extracted from these files. Data was analysed with SPSS software (version 16). PResults: The most common pathology was invasive ductal carcinoma (89.4%). 106 cases (65.8%) had positive estrogen receptor, 79 (9.8%) positive progesterone receptor and 89 (64.49%) negative Her2. Most patients (71.4%) had undergone modified radical mastectomy. The most common clinical stage was IIB (33.54%).
Conclusion: The most common type of breast cancer in women above 70 years is invasive ductal carcinoma and the most common stage of disease is IIB. Most patients are positive estrogen receptor and negative HER2. Therefore, it is recommended to pay more attention to their specific clinical characteristics in choosing their treatment approach.

Keywords


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