British Women Over 70 Receive Less Breast Cancer Treatment

Women in England who are over 70 have the highest rate of breast cancer, but they receive the poorest care, according to researchers from the University of Manchester. If she is over 80, the study found that she may not be given surgery or radiation to help fight the disease. Dr Katrina Lavelle, lead author of the Manchester research, said: "Women aged 70 and over are less likely to receive the same breast cancer care as younger women and this is related to their age rather than differences in the biology of their tumor." British women 70 and over have the lowest five-year survival rates as compared to the overall population. Dr. Lavelle said, "Mortality of elderly breast cancer patients is unlikely to improve where this pattern of management persists."

• Elderly breast cancer care 'poor'
• Diagnosis and Staging of Breast Cancer