The effect of age on the care of women with breast cancer in community hospitals.

摘要: We studied the process of care received by 1,680 female breast cancer patients treated in 17 community hospitals. The probability receiving various diagnostic, consultation, therapy, or rehabilitation services was almost always significantly associated with patient age for one more disease stages. Most often there a linear trend older to receive fewer (e.g., biopsies prior definitive treatment, number lymph nodes examined, chemotherapy, radiation therapy) but other patterns also were found. Age not clinical staging estrogen receptors.