An Investigation into Therapies for Seniors with Breast Cancer at Age 80 and Over
10.2185/jjrm.62.1
- VernacularTitle:80歳以上の高齢者乳癌の検討
- Author:
Daisaku HARAUCHI
;
Kou UYAMA
;
Yoshiaki SHIMADA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine
2013;62(1):1-8
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Purpose: No standard therapies are available for the elderly with breast cancer and they tend to refuse to undergo treatment because of complications and shorter-life expectancy. In this study, feasible therapies were examined by evaluating cases we had experienced in our hospital.Methods: We report the results of a study on 12 seniors with breast cancer at age 80 and over in regard to preoperative examinations, operative procedures, histopathological examinations and adjuvant therapies.Results: Preoperative examinations were performed before mammography, ultrasonography (US), computed tomography, enhanced MRI of breast and fine-needle aspiration cytology. Though it was necessary to get their consent for biopsy under local anesthesia, we could perform US-guided core needle biopsy without their objections resistance. The first half of patients underwent mastectomy with lymph node dissection, whereas the second half had less invasive surgeries, such as partial resection of the breast and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Histological checks revealed invasive carcinoma in 11 cases and the hormone receptor positive in 11 cases. Adjuvant therapy was performed with endocrine and fluoropyrimidine drugs orally administered. Irradiation to the remaining breast after partial resection was omitted by administering endocrine drugs.Conclusions: Elderly cases were apt to shun undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but they were treated with curative therapy by proposing less invasive partial resection, SLNB and adjuvant therapy. We should not omit lymph node dissection and adjuvant therapy just because the patients are elderly. However, less invasive and curative treatment based on the guideline should also be taken into full account.
