An 88-year-old woman with history of hypertension, chronic kidney disease with baseline creatinine of 1.8 meq/dL, and osteoarthritis was seen in the emergency room for worsening pain in the right shoulder and fatigue over 2 weeks. Her son denied any recent illnesses, falls, changes in appetite, or change in urinary or bowel habits.
In an analysis of a subset of breast cancer patients enrolled in the ATAC trial, it was apparent that age influences the risk of recurrence, and age and comorbidities significantly influence the risk of death without recurrence. The authors suggest assessment of comorbidities should be incorporated into decisions regarding adjuvant therapies.
