Age-dependent characteristics of screen-detected patients with breast cancer.

A consecutive series of 128 breast cancer patients detected by breast screening were enrolled in this study to analyze their age-dependent characteristics. They were classified into three groups; 40 years or less (young): 26 patients, 41-55 years (middle-aged): 67 patients and 56 years or over (old): 35 patients. The percentage of patients who had noticed breast abnormality by self-examination at the time of the breast screening increased from the young patients to the old without statistical significance. Nonpalpable breast cancer was more frequently (p < 0.05) observed in the young patients or the middle-aged rather than the old patients. The incidence of noninvasive carcinoma decreased from the young patients to the old without statistical significance. Decreased survival was seen in older patients rather than younger patients, without statistical significance. As a result, prognostic features were more favorable in patients aged 40 years or less than the other. Women aged 35-40 years should be recommended to attend breast screening.