Older women with breast cancer 'receive insufficient support'

Older women diagnosed with breast cancer are not experiencing the level of support and care enjoyed by younger women, according to a new report.

Breast Cancer Care claims that older women may not be receiving the level and type of support, treatment and information they need that is offered to younger women.

Breast Cancer Care director of policy and research Liz Carol stated: "At the crux of this briefing is how important it is that older women are valued in the health system.

"Breast cancer risk increases with age, yet older women are rarely targeted by specific health promotion initiatives."

It is estimated that almost ten per cent of the female population over the age of 65 is living with breast cancer.

While 86 per cent of women between the ages of 40 to 49 years are expected to live for up to five years once diagnosed, only 42 per cent of women aged 80 years and over are expected to live five years after diagnosis.

Older adults with breast cancer are also thought to risk treatment discrimination, leading to higher mortality rates.

According to Professor Christos Markopoulos, researcher at Athens University, the higher absolute death rate among elderly women suggests they are not receiving standard treatment

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