Dr. Muss on Optimizing Adjuvant Treatment for Older Breast Cancer Patients

Hyman B. Muss, MD, professor of oncology, University of North Carolina, director, Geriatric Oncology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses optimizing adjuvant treatment in older patients with breast cancer.

Muss says the average age of breast cancer patient in the US is 61 and the majority of women who don’t survive breast cancer are 65 and older. Older breast cancer patients typically do not qualify for clinical trials due to their age or comorbidities.

Comorbidities also make it difficult to treat these patients and may even be more serious than their breast cancer. Muss says the goal of treating these patients is to understand their functional status, talk to them about their goals, and help them maintain the highest quality of life possible.

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