Screening for Seniors

Breast cancer screening and treatment for seniors should be the same as that for younger women. Breast cancer is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 75 and 79, yet many women over age 70 fail to have regular mammograms.

Also: Some physicians discourage chemotherapy because they believe older women can't tolerate it well, but this usually is not the case.

Helpful: When discussing treatment options with your physician, ask whether he/she would recommend a different treatment if you were younger and, if so, why he is not suggesting it.