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- $Unique_ID{BRK00082}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Mastectomy and Follow-Up}
- $Subject{cancers aging surgery breasts special procedure procedures Mastectomy
- breast cancer mastectomies elderly age aged old older fibrocystic carcinoma
- neoplasm neoplasms}
- $Volume{P-19, B-19}
- $Log{}
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- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- Mastectomy and Follow-Up
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- QUESTION: My 73-year old mother has recently had a mastectomy to remove
- breast cancer. I'm surprised at the little amount of follow-up care that has
- been recommended by her doctor. It seems to me that friends around my age
- (mid-50's) who've had mastectomies have had to go for more follow-up exams.
- Does this sound right to you? Except for the breast cancer, my mother has led
- an extremely active and healthy life.
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- ANSWER: You question addresses a problem subject that has received some
- careful analysis in recent research.
- A recent study has found that elderly patients with breast cancer have
- been given less comprehensive therapy than younger cancer victims. Doctors at
- the University of California reviewed information of breast cancer patients in
- 7 California hospitals. They found that there were significant differences in
- the way the disease was managed in patients over 70 years old.
- The study found less than 64 and one-half percent of patients over 70
- received appropriate care. That's compared to almost 82 and one-half percent
- of patients aged 50 to 69 who obtained more thorough treatment.
- Its time for you to get involved in your mother's care. Start with a
- visit to her present physician, and present your concerns. There may be some
- legitimate explanations that may satisfy you about the extent of the care. If
- not, have your mother see another physician. Go with her and present your
- problems to the new physician. You have the right and responsibility to
- question the doctor to make sure she's getting appropriately aggressive
- treatment.
- During the study, significant differences were found between those under
- 70 and those over 70 with regard to the frequency of lymph node examination.
- 22% of the older patients did not get nodal examinations, whereas only 6% of
- the younger patients did not receive the lymph node tests. So you see, there
- are differences in care, and you deserve to get the best for your mother, if
- you take the right actions.
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- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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