Successful management of elderly breast cancer patients treated without radiotherapy
2007

Managing Elderly Breast Cancer Patients Without Radiotherapy

Sample size: 92 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Valassiadou Kalliope, Morgan David AL, Robertson John FR, Pinder Sarah E, Cheung Kwok-Leung

Primary Institution: Nottingham City Hospital

Hypothesis

Is breast conserving surgery without adjuvant radiotherapy effective for elderly patients with breast cancer?

Conclusion

Omitting radiotherapy after successful breast conserving surgery in elderly patients with ER positive tumors receiving tamoxifen may be acceptable.

Supporting Evidence

  • The local recurrence rate in the no RT group was 8.4%.
  • In the ER positive group, the local recurrence rate was 0.92% per annum.
  • Breast cancer specific survival was correlated to histological grade and ER status.

Takeaway

Older women with breast cancer might not need radiation after surgery if they take a medicine called tamoxifen.

Methodology

A retrospective review of 92 elderly patients who underwent breast conserving surgery for invasive carcinoma.

Potential Biases

Potential selection bias due to the retrospective nature of the study.

Limitations

The study is retrospective and may not account for all variables affecting outcomes.

Participant Demographics

Elderly patients, median age 75 years, range 70-87 years.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.024

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1477-7819-5-62

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication