TUMOR CHARACTERISTICS, TREATMENT AND SURVIVAL PERIODS OF ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER IN ELDERLY

Introduction: There are limited clinical studies on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer patients aged 65 and above. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics, treatment approaches and survival periods of patients above the age of 65 patients with breast cancer. Materials and Method: The goal of this retrospective study was to analyze the data of 71 breast cancer cases treated and followed at the Kayseri Education and Research Hospital, Department of Radiation Oncology between 2005 and 2011. Results: Ten male patients and 61 female patients were included in this study. The most common presenting symptom was a palpated mass at the breast. Ductal carcinoma was the most common tumor type. The most common pathological tumor size was T2. Adjuvant therapies were performed according to histopathological results, performance status and concomitant diseases. The median survival time for male patients was 44.5 months with a predicted 83% 1-year survival and for female patients 30.2 months with a predicted 97% 1-year survival. Conclusion: There are limited studies on breast cancer above the age of 65 in our country. This study shows that breast cancer in elderly bears similitaries to that in youngs in terms of natural course, diagnostic and therapeutic profiles.