In the UK  about  150000 people  above  70 are diagnosed each year  with  some form of cancer. Although the  incidence among the elderly  is  about  50%  of the total, with increasing numbers of older people, these nmbers are going to increase significantly.<p>

The  survival rates in  the old , however,  lag  far behind those in other comparable countries. The  problems and challenges  of  cancer diagnoses and susequent treatment are  widespread;  a  special  'elderly task force' has  been initiated  by  the European  Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer,  to look into the whole area of  cancer in old age.<p>

The Macmillan  Cancer Support  UK  is  currrently campaigning for  a  better and more  'fair' handling of cancer in old age  and they  deserve our congratulations and  support. <p>

There are many reasonse for this apparent 'discrepancy' between the young and the old.  Often the older patient refuses further tests and  possible treatment for suspected cancer;  more often,  the doctors do not consider it  'useful'  to spend resources on an old person with limited life span  and thus patients are not 'referred'  to the cancer specialists.   <p>

The issues of coexisting morbidities, simultanous intake of other medications, general frailty, poor/inadequate  social support/care  availability  needed for a  full- blown anti cancer management regime etc etc  are also very relevant.  All that said , advanced chronological age per se , is  never a  contraindiacation for cancer treatment.  Same  managements  produce  similar results    in anyone irrespective of their age.   Older  individuals , however, warrant a more thorough 'assessment'  both  medical and social prior to any therapy;  hence it is adviseable for a joint  geriatrician /oncology / surgery  team  to  handle  the older patients.  That is the ideal way to achieve the best possible outcome.  Macmillan group are preaching just that.