ABSTRACT
The life-expectancy of most elderly patients is longer than the expected survival from common cancers (the lifeexpectancy of a healthy woman aged 70 is 15 years, and of a man approximately 11 years). It is reasonable to treat older individuals with cancer with the aim of improving their survival. The treatment of the older person needs to be individualized, based on life-expectancy, treatment tolerance, and aggressiveness of the tumor. More than chronologic age, attention should be paid to comorbidities, function, and cognitive status, which may influence both the life-expectancy and the treatment tolerance of an older person. Cancer is the second most common cause of death after age 65,1 and most common cancers (Table 23.1) become more common with age. Thirty-five percent of cancer deaths in men and 46% in women occur at age 75 or after.
