European Journal of Breast Health (Jul 2023)

Current Challenges and Perspectives in Breast Cancer in Elderly Women: The Senologic International Society (SIS) Survey

  • Louise Scheer,
  • Massimo Lodi,
  • Tolga Özmen,
  • Khalid Alghamdi,
  • Stanley Anyanwu,
  • Joshi Birendra,
  • Mohsen Boubnider,
  • Mauricio Costa,
  • Darius Dian,
  • Elisabeth Elder,
  • Luiz Henrique Gebrim,
  • Xiaojing Guo,
  • Damien Heitz,
  • Shigeru Imoto,
  • Lydia Ioannidou-Mouzaka,
  • Cary Kaufman,
  • Hong Liu,
  • Mamadou Mbodj,
  • Esther Meka,
  • Alexander Mundinger,
  • Jorge Novelli,
  • Daniel Ojuka,
  • Ruben Orda,
  • Valerijus Ostapenko,
  • Tadeusz Pieńkowski,
  • Paula Podolski,
  • Thomas Vogel,
  • Jian Yin,
  • Vahit Özmen,
  • Schlomo Schneebaum,
  • Carole Mathelin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4274/ejbh.galenos.2023.2023-5-1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 3
pp. 201 – 209

Abstract

Read online

Objective:Mammographic screening and management of breast cancer (BC) in elderly women are controversial and continue to be an important health problem. To investigate, through members of the Senologic International Society (SIS), the current global practices in BC in elderly women, highlighting topics of debate and suggesting perspectives.Materials and Methods:The questionnaire was sent to the SIS network and included 55 questions on definitions of an elderly woman, BC epidemiology, screening, clinical and pathological characteristics, therapeutic management in elderly women, onco-geriatric assessment and perspectives.Results:Twenty-eight respondents from 21 countries and six continents, representing a population of 2.86 billion, completed and submitted the survey. Most respondents considered women 70 years and older to be elderly. In most countries, BC was often diagnosed at an advanced stage compared to younger women, and age-related mortality was high. For this reason, participants recommended that personalized screening be continued in elderly women with a long life expectancy.In addition, this survey highlighted that geriatric frailty assessment tools and comprehensive geriatric evaluations needed to be used more and should be developed to avoid undertreatment. Similarly, multidisciplinary meetings dedicated to elderly women with BC should be encouraged to avoid under- and over-treatment and to increase their participation in clinical trials.Conclusion:Due to increased life expectancy, BC in elderly women will become a more important field in public health. Therefore, screening, personalized treatment, and comprehensive geriatric assessment should be the cornerstones of future practice to avoid the current excess of age-related mortality. This survey described, through members of the SIS, a global picture of current international practices in BC in elderly women.

Keywords