Should elderly patients be told they have cancer? Questionnaire survey of older people

Patients and methods

We produced a questionnaire asking older people's views on how much they would want to know, if they were diagnosed with cancer, about the type of cancer, extent of spread, treatment, and prognosis and also their wishes about informing their families. We also inquired about mobility and living circumstances to determine any association. Patients were recruited from day hospitals and outpatient clinics (74%, n=199) and from the local senior citizen association (26%, n=71). Patients with dementia or a history of cancer were excluded.

Of a total of 315 individuals approached, 270 (86%) completed the questionnaire. Respondents ranged in age from 65 to 94 years (mean 79.9 (SD 8.3) years) with 54% (n=145) over 75. Over half were women (58%, n=156). Altogether 238 (88%) respondents wanted to be informed of the diagnosis, whereas 11% did not and 1% were indifferent. A significant difference was noted between those aged under 75 and those aged 75 or over in the proportion who did not want to be informed (6.4% and 13.7% respectively, P=0.04). Of those who expressed a desire to be informed, 62% (n=147) wanted to know as much as possible about their cancer, whereas the remainder were more selective. Over 70% (n=194) of respondents wanted their relatives to be informed when the diagnosis of cancer was made.

No significant differences in attitude towards being told about cancer were found between those with different living circumstances or those who lived with a partner or not. In contrast, individuals with limited mobility were significantly less interested in knowing they had cancer than those who walked independently either unaided or with a stick (7% v 28%, P= 0.002). This, we believe, is important as mobility could be taken to reflect independence. There was no relation, however, to walking distance, as a substantial proportion (44%) could walk only 23 metres or less.

Comment

Eighty eight per cent of our population of older people living in the community would like to be told if they developed cancer. This compares with 96% in a previous study of patients with cancer.4 The difference is probably related to the fact that all the patients in the previous study had cancer (whereas ours did not), and they represented a wider age group, with only 44% being aged over 65 years. Most of our population wanted their families to be informed, although a few commented that they would rather tell them themselves. In contrast, 28% (n=76) did not wish their family to know, and this relatively high proportion probably reflects the fact that 45% were widowed and 52% lived alone. Disclosure of a diagnosis of cancer has on occasions caused conflict between physicians and family members. Our study clarifies this issue and should help decision making in the difficult situation where family members ask that their elderly relatives should not be informed. We are not aware of studies among elderly patients with cancer, and a study among this group is now required to provide a more comprehensive picture.