BMJ 1999;319:309-312 ( 31 July )

Education and debate

Cancer in old ageis it inadequately investigated and treated?

N J Turner, specialist registrar ^a,  R A Haward, professor ^b,  G P Mulley, professor ^a,  P J Selby, professor ^c. 

^a Department of Medicine for the Elderly, St James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, ^b Research School of Medicine Centre for Cancer Research, Yorkshire Cancer Organisation, Cookridge Hospital, Leeds LS16 6QB, ^c Research School of Medicine Centre for Cancer Research, ICRF Cancer Medicine Research Unit, St James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF

Correspondence to: N J Turner nicola_turner@talk21.com

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The proportion of the United Kingdom population over 75 years of age will increase from around 7% to nearly 11% in the next 50 years, with a disproportionate rise in those over 85 years. There will be a large increase in the number of elderly patients with cancer. Already over one third of cancers are diagnosed in people over 75, yet we do not know how best to investigate and treat cancers in these patients. Many clinical trials have used arbitrary upper age limits. Even trials in allegedly elderly subjects start at age 65. Very few studies include large numbers of old (over 75) or very old (over 85) people.¹ The role and effectiveness of many cancer treatments is therefore not evidence based in those most affected.

Studies of cancer care in elderly patients show fewer diagnostic and staging procedures and less treatment with advancing age. Disease specific survival rates decline with age.^2-6 This is . . . [Full text of this article]

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

CANCER IN ELDERLY

Jeremic Branislav
bmj.com, 10 Aug 1999 [Full text]

The benefits in local control may be outweighted lower quality of life

Ian Kunkler
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