Breast Cancer Surgery for Many Elderly More Harmful than Helpful

Health Wellness

No matter what age a female is, perhaps the scariest thing is to hear that they have breast cancer.

If caught very early on, some women get by with just a lumpectomy and chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment. However, lumpectomies seem to be fewer and fewer and the number of mastectomies are increasing in frequency. This is devastating to so many women as they believe that their breasts are important to their being a woman.

With modern medicine, the survivability rate for breast cancer is much better than it used to be. According to one source, here are the survivability rate based upon what stage the breast cancer was discovered, based upon five years from diagnosis:

  • Stage 0 – 100%
  • Stage 1 – 100%
  • Stage 2 – 93%
  • Stage 3 – 72%
  • Stage 4 – 22%

However, age also plays a factor in the 5-year survivability rate. The older a woman is, the lower her survivability rate at five years is. This is mainly due to the normal aging process which does weaken a person’s strength that is needed to recover and a weaker immune system.

But, is there a point in time, or should I say age or physical health, when having surgery for breast cancer can be more harmful than the cancer itself?

According to a new report, the answer is YES!

“Surgery is a mainstay of breast cancer treatment, offering most women a good chance of cure.”

“For frail nursing home residents, however, breast cancer surgery can harm their health and even hasten death, according to a study published Wednesday in JAMA Surgery…”

“The study examined the records of nearly 6,000 nursing home residents who had inpatient breast cancer surgery the past decade. It found that 31 to 42 percent died within a year of the procedure. That’s significantly higher than the 25 percent of nursing home residents who die in a typical year, said Dr. Victoria Tang, lead author and an assistant professor of geriatrics and hospital medicine at the University of California-San Francisco.”

“Although her study doesn’t include information about the cause of death, Tang said she suspects that many of the women died of underlying health problems or complications related to surgery, which can further weaken older patients. Patients who were the least able to take care of themselves before surgery, for example, were the most likely to die within the following year. Dementia also increased the risk of death.”

It’s a very difficult decision for anyone to make for themselves or for someone they love. Without surgery, the likelihood of dying from the breast cancer is most likely, but is it worth undergoing surgery and risking it leading to an even earlier death?

Some may consider the quality of life, which neither option lends itself to a quality of life.

This is something that every older woman and man needs to discuss with their loved ones or designated caregivers. Whether breast cancer, other cancers or other illnesses, to what extent do you want treatment and what will the quality of life be with or without treatment?

Make the decision and put it in writing so your loved ones don’t have to make it for you.

Breat Cancer Elderly

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