Breast Cancer in Older Adults

Breast cancer primarily is a disease of older women, yet most clinical trials and reports have failed to include older patients. As a result, there has been little evidence on which to base care decisions, including screening mammography recommendations. A decade after changes in screening recommendations for older women, research now is beginning to emerge. This article outlines evidence to increase clinicians' understanding of how breast cancer presents and progresses in older women and how to support personalized decision-making regarding screening and management.