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Long-term survival rates of older breast cancer patients: Population-based estimates over three decades.

9051 Background: Significant progress has been made in the treatment of breast cancer. However, the impact of these treatments on survival in older patients with breast cancer is not clear.


METHODS
We used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to determine relative survival of older patients with breast cancer. We compared trends in survival between 1977-86, 1987-96 and 1997-2006 in patients 65-74, 75-84 and 85+ years of age. Survival rates were calculated for up to 9 years after diagnosis.


RESULTS
Between 1977-86 and 1997-2006, 1 year survival increased from 94.9% to 97.9%, 93.6% to 96.7% and 88.5% to 93.5% in the 65-74, 75-84, and 85+ age groups, respectively. Survival gains increased with each year in all three age groups with the greatest improvement observed at 9 years of follow up. Smaller differences were seen between 1987-96 and 1997-2006. Although the 'oldest old' (85+ years) had the lowest survival rates, improvement in overall survival was greatest in this age group.


CONCLUSIONS
Relative survival for older patients has increased considerably in the interval between 1977 and 2006, with the largest improvement seen in those 85 years and older. These results likely indicate that the benefit from advances in therapy and supportive care also extends to older patients with breast cancer including the 'oldest old'. This may have significant relevance in terms of defining management strategies for the treatment of older breast cancer patients particularly at a time when rationing of health care is under consideration. [Table: see text].