Supportive, palliative and end-of-life care for older breast cancer patients

Abstract

Breast cancer is predominantly a disease of older women, but the bias towards inclusion of younger patients and exclusion of older ones in clinical studies has led to a relative paucity of specific data on their well-being. In this chapter, therefore, much of the evidence reviewed will be generic to all ages of patients, but whenever age-related changes are known, these will be highlighted. The authors feel justified in this inclusive approach, as the key messages about supportive, palliative, and end-of-life care are still poorly recognized by many professionals, even those providing excellent surgical and oncological care for both younger and older women. © 2010 Springer-Verlag London.