Clinical oncology : a journal of the Royal College of Radiologists
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Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) · Mar 2009
Cancer in the elderly: a societal perspective from the United States.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the USA and will probably surpass heart disease, the current leader, over the next few years. As in other affluent nations, cancer in the USA is a disease of ageing, with a median age at diagnosis of 67 years. Moreover, men and women in average health who reach age 65 years will probably live an average of 20 more years and it is estimated that by 2025 20% of Americans will be 65 years and older compared with 12% of the present population. ⋯ Financial constraints have limited trial opportunities for elders and hopefully will improve in the future. A major challenge for those in North America will be to provide the health care for elders with cancer and other diseases in the coming years. To meet this challenge we must expand and train the number of health care providers at all levels.