Breast conservation or mastectomy: Treatment choice of women aged 70 years and older

Fifty women aged 70 years and older with newly diagnosed carcinoma of the breast were prospectively studied after being offered a choice of four treatment options. Thirty-four of 38 patients who chose their own treatment had breast conservation; four opted for mastectomy. At 12-month follow-up only two women were unhappy with their choice of treatment. It is concluded that elderly women should be involved in deciding the treatment of their breast cancer.