Most older people would like to be told if they developed cancer

Eighty eight per cent of older people living in the community would like to be told if they developed cancer, and over 70% would want their family to be informed when the diagnosis of cancer was made. Ajaj and colleagues (p 1160) conducted a questionnaire survey of 260 people aged 65 to 94. Those under 75 were significantly more likely to want to be told their diagnosis than those aged over 75. Attitudes towards being told about cancer were similar in those who lived with a partner and those who did not, and people with limited mobility were less interested in knowing they had cancer than those who walked independently.


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Relevant Article

Should elderly patients be told they have cancer? Questionnaire survey of older people
A Ajaj, M P Singh, and A J J Abdulla
BMJ 2001 323: 1160. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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