Objective: The aim of our study was to analyze the clinical results and prognosis for early elderly patients after surgery and to explore the rational treatment. Methods: Between January 1992 and December 2008, 98 early elderly breast cancer patients aged ≥ 65 years were treated with surgery, of which 52 patients received modified radical mastectomy and 46 patients received simple mastectomy. Results: Sixty-four (65.3%) patients had comorbidities including coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, etc. After a median follow up of 56 months (21 to 280 months), the 5-year cumulative survival rate of breast modified radical mastectomy group and mastectomy group were 84.0% and 82.7%, separately (P = 0.653). The 5-year recurrence rate were 3.8% and 8.1%, separately (P = 0.504). Conclusion: The simple mastectomy is suitable for the treatment of early elderly breast cancer patients for its lower complication and recurrence rate. Early old women with breast cancer may be safely treated by simple mastectomy. Our findings suggest that modified radical mastectomy does not significantly increase the overall survival. Objective: The aim of our study was to analyze the clinical results and prognosis for early elderly patients after surgery and to explore the rational treatment. Methods: Between January 1992 and December 2008, 98 early elderly breast cancer patients aged ≥ 65 years were treated with Of the 52 patients received modified radical mastectomy and 46 patients received simple mastectomy. Results: Sixty-four (65.3%) patients had comorbidities including coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, etc. After a median follow up of 56 months (21 to 280 months), the 5-year cumulative survival rate of breast modified radical mastectomy group and mastectomy group were 84.0% and 82.7%, separately (P = 0.653) P = 0.504). Conclusion: The simple mastectomy is suitable for the treatment of early elderly breast cancer patients for its lower complication and recurrence rate. Early women with breast cancer may be safely treated by simple mastectomy. Our findings suggest that modified radical mastectomy does not significantly increase the overall survival.