Comment on the article "Outcome of surgically treated octogenarians with breast cancer"

AK Belli, G Memis, O Dere, O Nazli 
 Department of General Surgery, Mugla Sitki Kocman Medical School, Mugla, Turkey

Correspondence Address:
A K Belli
Department of General Surgery, Mugla Sitki Kocman Medical School, Mugla
Turkey

Full Text

Sir,

We read the article "Outcome of surgically treated octogenarians with breast cancer." The authors assessed the surgical outcomes of breast cancer in the elderly population and found sufficient survivals. They also commented in the article that age, life expectancy, competing cause of death, comorbidities, functional autonomy, and personal choice were the factors that oncogeriatric patients do not take standard treatment. [1] We would like to remind that elderly women or men have problems in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Since there are no breast-cancer screening programs for the women over 75 years of age and for males, they usually present with an advanced stage cancer. Moreover, many elderly men are not aware of developing breast cancer.

We had a 90-year-old male patient presented with a 5 cm ulcerated tumor that was gradually developed in 4 years in his right breast. He was not living alone and due to his good functional capacity the tumor was not noticed by any family member. The patient had not realized the risk of having breast cancer until his son saw him while he was changing his cloths. His son brought him to the hospital and the diagnostic procedures revealed stage IIIb locally advanced invasive ductal carcinoma. One study reported that more than 50% of people who are over 85 years of age had dementia; however, our patient had sufficient mental capacity. [2]

Furthermore, many physicians or healthcare workers do not routinely evaluate asypmtomatic elderly patients for breast cancer even if the patient is examined by a family practitioner or a general surgeon.

Therefore, we suggest that physicians, healthcare workers, and people who are at risk and who take care of elderly must be informed for male or elderly breast cancer as a social responsibility. Yearly clinical breast examination and monthly breast self examination are critical for early diagnosis.

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