Surgery for carcinoma of the breast in women over 70 years of age.

A review of 100 women over 70 years of age treated for breast carcinoma is reported. The short- and long-term results of treatment were evaluated with a median follow up of 4.7 years. Due to our aggressive approach, only 11% of this group died from breast cancer, and the 5-year survival rate was 51%, including all stages of the disease. The result of this study indicates that elderly women with breast cancer should be treated by surgical methods that offer the best chance of cure, regardless of patient's age.