Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1286433
Geriatric screening of older breast cancer patients – a pilot project
Background:
We have set up a pilot study to address the value of different screening methods to predict toxicity, function and disability in older breast cancer patients.
Methods:
82 consecutive patients over the age of 65, suffering from breast cancer were included. Patients were assessed before treatment and 2–3 months after radiotherapy or chemotherapy was finished. Different geriatric assessment tools were used to determine functional status and the activities of the daily life (ADLs). Cognitive status, comorbidity and others were measured. Endpoints were toxicity, disability and the quality of life.
Results:
Mean age was 70.8 years (65–86 years). Tumor-stage were mostly T1 or T2 (94%), 15% were hormone-receptor negative, 21% were HER2neu negative, 75% were lymph-node negative and none of them had distant filiae at the time of diagnosis. When comparing patients 75 years and older (n=17) with those between 65 and 75 years (n=65), frequency and dosage of radiotherapy and chemotherapy as well as tumor characteristics were equally distributed. Functional assessments revealed more deficits in the older age group. However, the functional and the activity measures increased in the older people more as compared to a decrease in the younger age group after the treatment. This could not be explained by comorbidity or the number of medications in the bivariate analysis. The EORTC (European organisation for research and treatment of cancer) function and symptom scales performed better than the other scales. Further analyses will be presented at the conference.
Conclusion:
The assessment of ADL-type physical functions seems to be a good predictive parameter for toxicity and disability of the older breast cancer patients.