Breast cancer may have a more indolent clinical course in women > 65 yr than in younger women. Several tumor and tumor-host observations support this hypothesis. Less aggressive hormone receptor-rich, well-differentiated tumors are more prevalent in older women. while life-threatening hepatic, cerebral, and lyrnphangitic metastases are less prevalent. In addition, the likelihood that a tumor [...]
The mortality rate for patients with pulmonary embolism who receive anticoagulant therapy is only 8%; the rale for those who do not receive treatment is 30%. In the elderly, the difference between these mortality rates may be even grealer. Prognosis is poorest in patients with severe underlying cardiac or pulmonary disease. Between 75% and 90% [...]
Close monitoring and intensive rehabilitation programs, including drug therapy and reconditioning through exercise, can improve the quality of life and reduce the number of hospitalizations for COPD patients. However, longevity probably cannot be improved significantly except in patients wilh hypoxemia.Smokers developing COPD lose FEVi at ihe rate of 50 to 100 mL/yr. while nonsmokers lose [...]
Many studies confirm Ihe high mortality rate associated with unrepaired abdominal aortic aneurysms. The 5-yr survival rale varies from 14% to 37%. Complications of abdominal aortic aneurysms other than rupture occur infrequently. Mural thrombi may embolize to the legs. Rarely, consumption coagulopathy occurs, resulting in thrombocylope-nia, elevated thrombin time, fibrin split products in ihe blood, [...]
