title: Aging and cancer.
abstract: A substantial increase in the number of elderly people in the populations of developed nations in the coming years has been projected. Persons 65 years and older are at significantly higher risk of developing cancer when compared to younger individuals. There is a resulting increase in cancer incidence as well as mortality in this advanced age group. It is important to know how changes in physiological reserve and functional status in elderly patients, polypharmacy issues, comorbidities, and other age-related problems can affect cancer prognosis and management. Elderly patients are not adequately represented in clinical trials, thus creating a relative lack of information related to specific issues about elderly cancer patients and their care. Nevertheless, there is a substantial amount of guidance available, and in this review we will address selected issues of importance when considering the approach to the older cancer patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Debashish
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.forename: Pearl H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Harvey Jay
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001711:Biotransformation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D019049:Developed Countries; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D018579:Patient Selection; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents