Canadian Pharmacy Connects Old Age with Higher Risk of Death from Breast Cancer

Postmenopausal women run higher risk of developing breast cancer. Our Canadian pharmacy finds death rate from the disease is much higher in older women irrespective of the type of tumor or treatment plans. Increased fatality was especially observed in women suffering from hormone receptor positive breast cancer.

Findings of the study conducted by researchers from the Leiden University Medical Center in Netherlands were published in the February issue of Journal of American Medical Association. Breast cancer affects older women across the globe and often leads to death if diagnosed after metastasis creeps in.

An estimated 12% women develop invasive breast cancer at some point in their lives, though death rates have reduced over the years. The recent study adds more meaning to estimates suggesting over 39,500 women in US were likely to die from breast cancer in 2011, the majority over 65 years of age.

Researchers conducted a TEAM (Tamoxifen, Exemestane, Adjuvant, Multinational) study on postmenopausal women suffering from breast cancer. Patients were found to have progesterone or estrogen receptor-positive tumors. A total number of 9,766 patients volunteered for the study. Researchers collected data from January 2001 until January 2006 categorizing information as per age. Volunteers were segregated into the under 65, 65 - 74, and 75+ age groups.

Follow-up studies were conducted approximately 5.1 years after initial diagnosis. A total of 1,043 out of the 9,766 volunteers died of breast cancer. Researchers found approximately 8.3% patients over the age of 75 years succumb to breast cancer. The percentage reduced to 6.3% in patients between 65 to 74 years of age, and further reduced to 5.7% in patients below 65 years of age. People often buy Femara from our generic Canadian pharmacy for treatment of hormone receptor positive breast cancer.

Multivariable analyses were conducted to establish existence of higher mortality rate in women between 65 - 74 and over 75 years of age. Characteristics of the tumor as well as adopted treatment plans did not make a difference in the results. Researchers managed to connect a direct link between disease-specific mortality and age. Older patients are likely to have other medical complications which may not be evident in lab tests. They may respond differently to standard treatment.

Medical practitioners are extremely careful when prescribing medication to older patients, as resistance to disease is low. Patients are likely to exhibit unknown symptoms difficult to diagnose and treat. Likelihood of patients over 75 years of age being undertreated cannot be ruled out. For example, radiotherapy after surgery is generally not recommended for older patients to avoid infection. Around 5.2% of 75+ patients undergo chemotherapy even though 48% reported nodal involvement.

Researchers are confident of reducing fatality in older patients suffering from breast cancer by recording information from studies conducted across specific age groups. Analyses have to be more detailed to increase chances of treating breast cancer at early stages. Identifying causes of the disease specific to age may help reduce mortality and prevent relapse of the disease.

Changing demographics will further increase risk unless researchers find the perfect treatment option for older women. Identifying causal factors that increase mortality in breast cancer patients and cause relapse may help, according to our Canadian pharmacy.