Recurrence Patterns of Breast Cancer in Elderly Women Following Breast Conservation Surgery or Mastectomy without Adjuvant Radiotherapy or Chemotherapy

Background: This research aims to investigate the recurrence patterns of breast cancers in elderly women (>65 years) treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy alone, and compare the treatment outcomes with those having BCS/mastectomy plus adjuvant radio or chemotherapy. Methods: The study was conducted on 75 patients divided into two groups: Group-1 consisted of 50 patients who underwent BCS/MRM without adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy, only receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy, while Group-2 was comprised of 25 patients who underwent BCS/MRM and received adjuvant chemo and/or radiotherapy, with or without hormonal therapy. Results: The recurrence rates were 10% and 8% in Group-1 and Group-2 respectively. The risk ratio was 1.07, indicating a minor difference in the risk of recurrence between the two groups, which was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The mean time to recurrence was marginally higher in Group-1 (15.25 +/- 3.77 months) compared to Group-2 (14.33 +/- 3.05 months). Conclusion: The study reveals no significant difference in breast cancer recurrence rates in elderly women post BCS/mastectomy whether adjuvant therapy was administered or not. This challenges traditional protocols and argues for the reconsideration of the necessity and benefits of adjuvant therapies in this demographic