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Treating elderly cancer patients: what you need to know about their physiology and specific medical needs
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, and Commack, NY
By 2030, more than 20% of people in the United States will be aged 65 years or older. Approximately half of all cancers occur in this population. Because life expectancy has increased tremendously over the past century and further increases are projected, the study of cancer and aging has emerged as a critical topic in oncologic care. This article outlines key issues in caring for the older adult with cancer and offers practitioners a better understanding of the differences in physiology of these patients and their specific medical needs.
| Commun Oncol 2006;3:730–734 | full text |  115 kb |