The elderly population opportunities for cancer prevention and detection

Abstract

Interest in the elderly population, persons 65 years of age or older, as a target group for cancer control has not been great. Age recommendations rarely are made for prevention and early detection of cancer for elderly persons. However, cancer incidence and mortality rates are known to rise rapidly with increasing age. This paper takes a long-term public-health perspective to look toward the year 2030 to discuss the challenges of organizing and implementing prevention and early detection incentives for our nation's current and future elderly population. Cancer prevalence estimates in the context of the geriatric imperative of the 21st century are provided for three cancers--breast, prostate, and lung and bronchus. The sheer magnitude of numbers created by the aged population expansion can greatly increase the number of cancer survivors and newly diagnosed cases. Current efforts in cancer prevention and early detection should anticipate the health-care demands of the elderly in the first three decades of the next century.

Doxorubicin-Based Chemotherapy in Elderly Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

“…While the response rate was higher in the younger group, the overall survival curves were similar for the two groups (P=.06), as well as the time to progression of the disease (P=. 15). …”

The national institute on aging and the national cancer institute seer collaborative study on comorbidity and early diagnosis of cancer in the elderly

“…3 In the summary of the deliberations of working groups from the previously mentioned meeting, the importance of understanding the behavioral and psychosocial factors in the screening, detection, and treatment of cancer in the elderly was empha~ized.~ There are various information and knowledge gaps that need to be filled to understand the dynamics of diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the elderly. After analyzing preliminary results for 1712 patients, it was ascertained that more and different chronic disease categories would be necessary, that it was not feasible to collect data on ability to perform certain physical functions from the medical records, and that the collection of data on current medications was possible.…”

The Evolution of Gero-Oncology Nursing

“…In 1983, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) convened one of the first symposia on cancer and aging, entitled “Perspectives on the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer in the Elderly.” During that meeting, pioneers in the evolving field of geriatric oncology addressed a number of topics, including differences in physiologic and chronologic age, the biology of cancer and aging, changing demographics of aging and cancer control in older adults, cancer prevention and treatment in older adults, and strategies to increase competence and knowledge in geriatric oncology [7]. Since that time, the field of geriatric oncology as a medical specialty has rapidly developed.…”