Stage and treatment variation with age in postmenopausal women with breast cancer: compliance with guidelines

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Abstract
Breast cancer-specific mortality is static in older women despite having fallen in younger age groups, possibly due to lack of screening and differences in treatment. This study compared stage and treatment between two cohorts of postmenopausal women (55-69 vs >70 years) in a single cancer network over 6 months. A total of 378 patients were studied (>70: N=167, 55-69 years: N=210). Older women presented with more advanced disease (>70: metastatic/locally advanced 12%, 55-69 years: 3%, P70: median NPI 4.4, 55-69 years: 4.25, P70: 57.5% mastectomy rate vs 55-69 years: 20.6%, P70: 6.7% no nodal surgery, 55-69 years: 0.5%, P70: 10.7% <4 nodes excised, 55-69 years: 3.4%, P<0.02). In summary, older women presented with more advanced breast cancer, than younger postmenopausal women and were treated less comprehensively.