International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Some older women who are diagnosed with breast cancer may not receive the treatment they need due to their age, it has been claimed.

"Studies show that some older women may not be receiving potentially beneficial treatments because of their age rather than the type of tumour," said Arlene Wilkie, director of research and policy for the Breast Cancer Campaign.

New research from Scottish charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer has revealed that women over the age of 80 are 40 times less likely to receive surgery, which is associated with increased survival rates, than younger patients with breast cancer.

They are also less likely to receive standard treatments too, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, than younger women suffering from the disease.

Ms Wilkie said that more research is being done into the charity's findings and she hopes it will "provide information about whether surgical treatment offered is being based on age even when the patient choice and health would make it appropriate to operate".

The most recent data shows that around 80 per cent of women in the UK who are now diagnosed with breast cancer have a survival rate of five years, due to improvements in oncology treatments.

Posted by Paul Robertson