Surgical resection plus tamoxifen as treatment of breast cancer in elderly patients: a retrospective study.

Between March 1982 and May 1989, 151 women with primary breast cancer ranging in age from 70 to 91 years (median 79), were treated with conservative surgical procedure followed by adjuvant tamoxifen. Surgery was performed under local anaesthesia without axillary node dissection. The median duration of follow-up was 60 months (range 36-124). There were six local, six ipsilateral axillary node and six distant relapses. Local recurrences were successfully managed with further surgery whereas axillary node relapses required radiotherapy in 3 cases, surgery in 2 cases and hormonal treatment in 1 case. 2 patients died of progression of disease and one of unrelated conditions. The 5-year relapse-free survival rate was 0.82. This treatment option in elderly patients yields an acceptable local control and reduces the risks of major surgery.