ABSTRACT
The number of people aged 75 and over in North America is increasing. Statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta (CDC) suggest that people over 75 made up 5.6% of the population in 1995 and will increase to 9.3% in 2030.1 Most seniors are very healthy and active; however, with respect to those diagnosed with a malignancy, 35% of cancer deaths in men and 46% in women occur at age 75 or older.2 According to Repetto et al,3 deaths associated with cardiovascular disease are declining as compared with cancer-related deaths, which are increasing. In response to the issues of aging and cancer, the development of a Geriatric Oncology Program (GOP) may help meet the health needs of the older person with cancer.
