Improving Outcomes for Breast Cancer Survivors

Arti Hurria, Hy Muss, Hurria, Arti, Muss, Hy

The true face of breast cancer is more commonly that of an older woman. The rapid aging of the US population is contributing to an increasing number of breast cancer cases in older adults today, as well as an increase in the number of breast cancer survivors who carry the long-term side effects of breast cancer treatment. The number one problem facing older women with breast cancer today is that they are not receiving the same benefits from treatment advances as younger women. This disparity in outcomes highlights the great need for studies that specially include older women with breast cancer in order to guide informed decisions regarding the most efficacious treatment options. Novel study designs are needed to fill these gaps in knowledge which include metrics that provide a detailed understanding of the individual beyond chronologic age, and which identify areas of vulnerability for which targeted interventions can be employed. In studying cancer therapeutics in older adults, metrics of success, beyond disease-free and overall survival should be included, such as the feasibility of delivering the therapy, as well as the impact of treatment on functional independence and cognition. Ultimately, this framework will lead to evidence-based "personalized" medicine for the older adult.