Treating Positive Axillary Disease in Elderly Breast Cancer Patients: The Impact of Age on Radiation Therapy

Introduction: Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in females, and 30% of these patients are over the age of 70 years. Studies have shown deviation from the standard treatment paradigms in the elderly, especially in regard to radiation treatment. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review on 118 patients over the age of 70 years diagnosed with breast cancer and pathologically proven axillary disease over an 8-year period at an urban academic hospital to examine which patient factors influenced radiotherapy. Results: Increasing patient age was associated with a decrease in the probability of receiving radiotherapy, while HER2-negative patients were more likely to receive radiation. Neither race, number of coexisting medical conditions, or insurance status showed any influence on radiation treatment. Conclusion: Patient age has a significant influence if elderly patients with axillary disease receive radiotherapy. Further investigation and validation are needed to understand why chronological age rather than biological age influences treatment modalities.