The role of age in the course of breast cancer
Callies, R.; Regidor, P.A.; Oberhoff, C.; Schindler, A.E.
European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology 18(5): 353-360
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0392-2936 PMID: 9378152 Document Number: 482412
Background and question: A retrospective study was performed. To check the hypothesis whether there is an inverse connection between age and prognosis. Patients and methods: We investigated a total group of 1000 cases with breast cancer primarily and consecutively treated between 1968 and 1986. After grouping the patients by tumor stage and median age various life table analyses were performed to calculate and compare the overall survival. Entry data was the data at diagnosis of a first breast cancer or date a first diagnosis of distinct metastasis. Results: Young patients with a tumor size T1 and T2 had a significantly better prognosis than older patients with the same tumor stage. Influence of age became significantly weaker in patients with a T3 or T4 tumor. At least in the patients with a primarily M1 stage hardy any more dependence of age could be demonstrated. Similar results were obtained for the 198 patients which presented a distant recurrence. Conclusion: Better general life expectancy of young patients is the cause of substantially better overall survival in curable stages. Advanced breast cancer is a strongly life-threatening factor. The fatal influence of large tumor mass is independent of age.