Older patients with cancer should undergo comprehensive assessments of their existing medical conditions, physical wellbeing, mental health, and social care support to safeguard against “discriminatory” treatment recommendations, a new report has concluded.

The Cancer Services Coming of Age report gives results from government pilots that tested whether better methods of assessment of health and care would improve access to treatment for older people with cancer. The pilots found that the “comprehensive geriatric assessment” could “impact positively on treatment decision making and general quality of care” if used in care of patients …