Geriatric Oncology

Cancer incidence increases with age. With an ageing population, the burden of cancer in older people is set to increase significantly in the coming decades. This is a heterogeneous group with wide variations in health and functional status separate from chronological age. Data suggest that historically this patient cohort have poorer outcomes and have been under-represented in clinical cancer trials. There is an emerging body of evidence to help guide treatment; however, ongoing research is needed to develop comprehensive evidence-based guidelines and identify treatment regimens, which are suitable for frailer patients. In this article, we review the current field of geriatric oncology. We highlight that age is not a contradiction to cancer treatment but geriatric assessment is needed to identify which treatment a patient may tolerate and benefit from.