The influence of age limitation of the German breast cancer screening program on female patients older than 69 years. A single-institutional retrospective study

Introduction The aim of this study is to explore the differences between patients included in the German breast cancer screening program and those older than 69 years.

Patients and methods Between 01/2017 and 08/2020, we collected all breast cancer patients older than 69 years presented to receive radiotherapy. The control arm included a similar sample size of patients between 50 and 69 years. Investigated Values included age, delivered treatment, hospitalization, initial tumor stage and method of tumor detection.

Results We identified 132 patients older than 69 years with breast cancer and 131 patients at age between 50 and 69 years. The most common initial Tumor stage in both groups was stage IA (29% in target group, 41% in control group). Stage IV was higher in the target group 9 % in comparison to 0, 8% in the control group. 61,8 % of patients in the target group detected the tumor themselves, meanwhile detected screening mammography 62,6 % of cases in the control group. 22% of targeted patients received chemotherapy, in comparison to 50% in the control group. Most of patients in both groups were operated and received radiotherapy.

Conclusion Stage IA is the most common initial Tumor stage detected among patients older than 69 years and those involved in the screening program. Incidence of Stage IV is higher among patients excluded from the program. Self detection is the most common method to detect breast cancer in this group of patients. Surgery and radiotherapy still feasible treatment options among elderly patients.

Publication History

Article published online:
11 October 2022