Younger women with breast carcinoma have a poorer prognosis than older women

✍ Scribed by Maureen Chung; Helena R. Chang; Kirby I. Bland; Harold J. Wanebo

• Book ID: 102648861
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 501 KB
• Volume: 77
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19960101)77:1<97::aid-cncr16>3.0.co;2-3

✦ Synopsis

BACKGROUND. I t is controversial whether breast cancer in young women is m o r e aggressive than in older women. This study was initiated to deterrnirie age-associateti outcome of women with breast carcinoma.

METHODS.

Patients with breast carcinoma, who were identified in a statewide tumor registry, were divided into age groups based on 10-year intervals (ages 40 and younger, 4 1 to 50, 51 to 60, 61 to 70, 71 to 80. and older than 80 years). 'Ige at diagnosis, American Joint Committee on Cancer classification, 5-year disease free (51)FS) and cancer specific (5CSS) survival estimates using Kaplan-MMcier arialysis were determined. RESULTS. Between 1985 and 1992,3722 women were diagnosed with invasive breast carcinouia. Approximately 5.6% (210) of the women were 40 years old or younger. 'The youngest age group had the worst 5CSS of 69.796, followed by the oldest age group (>80, 5CSS = 71.45%). The age groups 41 to 50. 51 to 60, 61 to 70, and 71 of 80.30%, 78.45%, 82.06%, and 84.27%. respectively. The oldest age group (>80) had the worst 5111s (39.88%) followed by the youngest age group ( ~4 0 , 5DFS = 60.79%).

'lhe age groups 41 to 50. 51 to 60, (51 to 70, and 71 to 80 years had 5I)FSs of 73.22%, 66.87%;. 71.5:1W, and 63.1 1%. respectively. Analyzed by stage, young ( 5 4 0 years) women had a worse X S S when compared with the other age groups, except for those with Stage I disease.

CONCLUSIONS.

Our results indicate that women 40 years of age and younger havc a worse 5CSS than their older counterparts. This difference in survival is riot solely a reflection of more advanced disease but may reflect differences in tumor biology.