Management of Cancer in the Older Aged Person.
The management of cancer in the older person is an increasingly common aspect of oncologic practice. The central questions concern effectiveness and safety of antineoplastic therapy, clinical criteria to identify patients who may benefit from treatment, and individualized management plans. To address these questions, we review the influence of age on various forms of cancer treatment, explore the basis of treatment-related decisions in older persons with cancer, and propose areas for future investigation. Age itself is not a contraindication to cancer treatment. Individualized treatment plans, based on appropriate diagnosis, staging and comprehensive geriatric assessment, are most beneficial to the older patients.
Balducci
L
Geriatric Oncology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA.
Cox
CE
Greenberg
H
Miguel
RV
Karl
R
Fabri
PJ