178 Background: There has been conflicting evidence in the literature regarding the association between age and breast cancer recurrence risk. Cancer Research UK reported a better survival among patients aged 50 to 69 compared to younger women. The National Cancer Institute had reported the same, but only in women with stage 1 cancer. Fox Chase Cancer Center and Lyman et al had however suggested that there is no association between breast cancer recurrence and age at diagnosis. Our objective is to investigate the association between breast cancer recurrence and age at diagnosis. Methods: An IRB-exempted restrospective chart review of female patients at Wellspan Group who had Oncotype DX analysis in 2008 and 2009. Data collected included Oncotype DX score and age at diagnosis. Data was analyzed to determine the correlation between Oncotype DX score and age at diagnosis. The patients were divided into three groups: age less than 45 years, age 45 to 59 years, and age 60 or more. Oncotype DX score was used because it has been clinically validated as a reliable predictor of breast cancer recurrence for node-negative breast cancer. Results: A total of 125 patients were identified. The Pearson Correlation score for Oncotype DX score and age at diagnosis was -0.064 (p = 0.478). The mean score was 18.36 for those aged less than 45 years, 22.04 for those aged 45 to 59 years, and 19.16 for those age 60 or more. The difference between these groups was not significant (p = 0.340). Conclusions: There was neither significant correlation between breast recurrence and age, nor difference between the three age groups. Our study shows that age at diagnosis is not an independent predictor of breast cancer recurrence risk.
Breast cancer recurrence risk reduction beliefs in breast cancer survivors: prevalence and relation to behavior
