Causes for the undertreatment of elderly breast cancer patients: tailoring treatments to individual patients.

Background: Ageism has been suggested as a cause for the undertreatment of elderly breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate and causes of elderly patients not receiving standard therapy.

Study Design: A random sample of 500 patients was reviewed for age, cancer stage, surgical, radiation, cytotoxic or hormonal chemotherapy, number and type of comorbidities, type of therapeutic deficiencies, and their causes.