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Tumour excision plus continuous tamoxifen compared with modified radical mastectomy in patients over 70 years of age with operable breast cancer
Author(s) -
Van Zyl Jacobus Alwyn,
Muller Anna Gertruida S.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930590304
Subject(s) - medicine , tamoxifen , mastectomy , breast cancer , surgery , modified radical mastectomy , radical mastectomy , wide local excision , antiestrogen , cancer
Between 1985 and 1991, we randomly assigned 77 women over the age of 70 years with stage I‐3a breast cancer to undergo a modified radical mastectomy or tumour excision followed by tamoxifen. Median follow‐up was 45 months. Patients treated by tumour excision and tamoxifen had a significantly better survival ( P = 0.04). The disease‐free survival of the tumour excision and tamoxifen group was close to significantly better ( P = 0.10). Only two patients in the tamoxifen group required an axillary dissection on follow‐up for progressive nodal enlargement. Two patients underwent a local mastectomy for locally recurrent disease. We conclude that tumour excision followed by continous tamoxifen is an acceptable, safe alternative to a modified radical mastectomy in patients over 70 years of age.