First off, a recent study showed that breast cancer cells in seniors are less aggressive and more responsive to treatments than that of a younger woman—if that gives some consolation to our age group! Aside from that, it was noted that the recurrence rate for women age 45 years and below is much higher.

In an elderly woman’s case, breast cancer, when detected early on, can be treated successfully. This is the reason why healthcare providers encourage seniors to undergo preventive care on a regular basis. Preventive care for elderly women includes mammograms which should be done every year. For those of you who have been living under a rock, mammograms are done to detect masses and microcalcification in the breast area. For cancer experts, early detection is still best since breast cancer is considered as the second deadliest type of cancer—lung cancer being the first.

Breast cancer, like any other type of cancer there is, starts as a single abnormal cell. It will then multiply, spread and mutate into something else. Common signs of breast cancer are:

•    Bloody discharge coming from the nipple.
•    Palpable lumps in the breast area.
•    Swelling of the breast that is hot and painful to the touch.
•    Abnormal redness of the breast skin.
•    Changes on breast size and contour.

If you notice some of these signs, it is most recommended to see your doctor at once and have yourself tested for breast cancer. Women age 40 and above should go through annual screening—biannual if you belong to high-risk groups. Some of the known risk factors are:

•    Your age
•    Exposure to radiation
•    Prolonged usage of oral contraceptives
•    Non-pregnancy or pregnancy during menopause/perimenopause
•    Excessive exposure to estrogen and progesterone
•    Family history of breast cancer
•    Bad habits such as smoking
•    Unhealthy lifestyle

Although doctors tend to treat seniors with precaution when it comes to cancer, good news is, seniors with cancer have a somewhat higher success rate than younger patients. Nowadays, doctors go for targeted treatments when dealing with breast cancer in seniors depending on the severity of the case. Some of the most common breast cancer treatments available for seniors are surgery, chemo, radiation and hormone therapies.