Extreme weekly hypofractionation in breast cancer in elderly

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in women, and globally, the second worldwide (1). The most significant risk factor for the development of a breast cancer is age, and the diagnosis is increasing in elderly patients. In the United States, almost one-half of new breast cancers diagnosed arise in elderly patients, and approximately one third occur in patients older than 70 years (2). Although the prognosis is better than in younger patients, radiation therapy is absolutely necessary as adjuvant treatment after lumpectomy or after mastectomy when there is node disease, to improve local control, regional control and overall survival (OS) (3,4). In spite of this, it is well known that elderly patients receive fewer treatments than young women, whether surgery, radiotherapy or systemic treatments (5)