Treatment for Elderly Women

Can anyone inform me if they know of treatment for non-invasive or invasive breast cancer for an 87 year old lady? Have doctors said that surgery is out of the question?  Can they treat elderly patients solely with Arimidex without surgery? What are the protocol treatments for elderly women? The stereotactic biopsy will be performed on Friday but I want to be informed beforehand.

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

there has been an increasing acceptance of non-surgical treatment for breast cancer among the elderly population (more than 80 years old) due to significant morbidity and side effects that can result from the surgery.  However, this is still a case to case basis, and even elderly patients that have good functionality and no comorbid illness can safely undergo surgery.  Also, there are no standard protocols for the elderly since most clinical trials consists of patients under 70 or 80 years of age.

The option of arimidex will be entertained if the tumor will turn out to be positive for hormone receptors (ER and/or PR).  Some would first treat with arimidex to shrink the tumor, and then go for less invasive surgeries.

Regards.