Author Description

The aged population is at the greatest risk for cancer and therefore the disease is becoming any ever-increasing problem as human longevity increases. Approximately one half of the common cancers occur in patients over 70. Paradoxically, however, they are excluded from clinical trails on grounds of "frailty". Such data as are available indicated that elderly cancer patients are often undertreated, giving rise to an increased risk of recurrence and death.This book considers the relationship between aging and malignancy and brings together a breadth of international clinical research on cancer in the elderly. The management of common tumors is examined from the perspective of surgery, radiotherapy, and medical oncology. Additionally, the psychosocial problems of the elderly and the specific needs for palliative care in older patients are discussed. Cancer in the Elderly makes recommendations for optimal treatment, but the authors also identify areas where knowledge is scarce and there is a need for both basic and applied research.