STUDIES ON AGE FACTOR AND THE PROGNOSIS OF BREAST CANCER

Abstract

At the Second Department of Surgery, Fukushima Medical School, 253 patients were treated for breast cancer during the period from 1963 to 1982. The relationship between the age factor and the prognosis of breast cancer of these cases was investigated, and the clinical features of breast cancer in young and elderly women were reported. Sixteen cases were under 35 years of age (6.3% of the total group) and seventeen cases were over 70 years of age (6.6%). These groups were investigated clinically by comparing them with the middle-aged group over 35 and under 70 years of age as a control. In the young group the frequency of Tis cases was 12.5%, while the frequency of advanced cases in stage III or IV was 31.3%. In the elderly group the frequency of advanced cases in stage III or IV was 41.2% and higher than in other groups. Histologically, in the young group nonivasive carcinoma was seen in 13.3%. As age advanced, the frequency of scirrhous carcinoma was higher, and in the elderly group scirrhous carcinoma was seen in 57.1%. Regarding prognosis, in the middle-aged group the 5-year survival rate was 72.9% and the 10-year survival rate was 66.4%, in the young group the rates were 66.1% and 39.7% and in the elderly group they were 73.5% and 73.5%. It seemed that in the young group the prognosis was poor because the cases of stage III and IV (including cases of pregnancy or delivery) all died from carcinoma. In the elderly group, the prognosis was good because all cases in stage I, II and III were healthy. For breast cancer in young women, the special endocrinological environment mast be paid attention to and early detection and early treatment mast be made. For breast cancer in elderly women, surgical treatment should be more actively undertaken.