Breast cancer and the older woman: Information and images

Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in elderly women. Information on breast cancer explicitly relevant to elderly women was examined in 113 articles in the professional nursing literature and popular magazines. Content analysis on the nature or extent of information about breast cancer indicated that authors in the professional nursing literature and the popular media have inadequately addressed the degree of risk and the special needs of the elderly woman. Few authors in either the lay or professional literature have explicitly discussed the needs of elderly women, nursing research on breast cancer typically did not include elderly women, and popular articles and accompanying photographs tended to feature younger women.