Characteristics of breast cancer in women over 80 years of age.

The records of 198 women over 80 years of age with breast cancer were reviewed to identify characteristics of breast cancer and to determine the effect of age in management of the disease in elderly women. Twenty percent of the patients were not staged at diagnosis. Axillary lymph node status was undetermined in 40 percent of the patients because operation was limited to lumpectomy or mastectomy (either simple or total). Complications were related to the operative wound. Breast cancer and cardiovascular disease accounted for 115 of 146 deaths and the 5 year survival rate was 35.6 percent. We have concluded that breast cancer in elderly women can be treated with appropriate surgical therapy and should not be limited because of age.