Breast Cancer Survival in Older Women
Author Information
Author(s): Ali A M G, Greenberg D, Wishart G C, Pharoah P
Primary Institution: University of Cambridge
Hypothesis
Can patient and tumor characteristics explain the poorer survival rates in older women with breast cancer?
Conclusion
Older women with breast cancer have poorer survival rates, which can be partially explained by known prognostic factors.
Supporting Evidence
- Older women are less likely to receive aggressive treatment for breast cancer.
- Relative survival rates decrease with age, particularly for those aged 80 and over.
- Patients treated in high-volume hospitals had better survival outcomes.
Takeaway
This study looked at women with breast cancer and found that older women tend to do worse than younger women, but some of this can be explained by their health and treatment.
Methodology
Data from 14,048 female breast cancer patients diagnosed from 1999 to 2007 were analyzed for survival rates and relative excess mortality using Poisson regression.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias due to differences in treatment assignment based on age and health status.
Limitations
Some data were missing for key variables, particularly in older patients, which could affect the results.
Participant Demographics
All participants were female breast cancer patients aged 50 years or older, with nearly 40% aged 70 or older.
Statistical Information
P-Value
1.93, 2.74, 3.88
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 83–85%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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