Worldwide, about 40% of breast cancers occur in women over the age of sixty-five.

The approach to breast cancer in the elderly is slightly different from breast cancer in young people. Treatment choices change, especially if the person has high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease and similar chronic diseases. The life expectancy of the person also affects the treatment.

Differences in Treatment

Another important criterion in the treatment of breast cancer in elderly patients is that the patient is in menopause. When a woman goes through menopause, her estrogen levels drop. This is particularly advantageous in hormone-sensitive cancers. Therefore, the choice of treatment is also different.

A serious problem in the treatment of elderly patients is that they are physically unfit for radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments due to their health conditions resulting from old age.

Criteria such as the patient’s age, vigor, chronic conditions and life expectancy play a major role in the choice of treatment.