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Rational Approach to Cancer in the Elderly

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Colorectal Cancer in the Elderly

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Abstract

In an era of an aging population with increased age-related cancer incidence, clinicians should expect that they will have to care for an ever growing number of elderly cancer patients. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of mortality in people aged over 65.

Whether at the screening, diagnosis, or treatment stage, there remains suboptimal treatment of cancer in the elderly. In most cases, the life expectancy of an elderly patient is often underestimated by the family and the physician. Underestimating the potential impact of cancer and life expectancy can expose an elderly patient to a high risk of loss of autonomy and of deterioration in the quality of life.

Colorectal cancer treatments are usually standardized but elderly patients may harbor multiple comorbidities, poor health status, geriatrics syndromes, and loss of functional reserve that will interfere with the treatment of the cancer itself. Optimizing these, complex patient relies on an accurate prediction of outcomes. Till today, no standardized assessment can be recommended. Studies are ongoing to find the best screening tools, best geriatric assessment, and best interventions especially in the setting of surgery.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité de coordination en oncogériatrie (UCOG), Centre Gérontologique Départemental, 1 rue Elzéard Rougier, 13012, Marseille, France

    Frédérique Retornaz M.D., Ph.D.

  2. EA3279. Evaluation des Systèmes de Soins – Santé Perçue, Université de la Méditerranée, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13006, Marseille, France

    Frédérique Retornaz M.D., Ph.D.

  3. Unité pilote de coordination en oncogériatrie (UPCOG), Institut Paoli Calmettes, 232 Bd Sainte Marguerite, 13273, Marseille, cedex 9, France

    Maud Cécile M.D.

  4. Division of Geriatric Medicine, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3T 1E2

    Howard Bergman M.D.

  5. Solidage Research Group on Integrated Services for Older Persons, Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3T 1E2

    Howard Bergman M.D.

Authors
  1. Frédérique Retornaz M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Maud Cécile M.D.
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  3. Howard Bergman M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frédérique Retornaz M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Surgery, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Yishun Central 90, Singapore, 768828, Singapore

    Kok-Yang Tan

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Retornaz, F., Cécile, M., Bergman, H. (2013). Rational Approach to Cancer in the Elderly. In: Tan, KY. (eds) Colorectal Cancer in the Elderly. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29883-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29883-7_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-29882-0

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