Surgery>>>>>Surgical Considerations in the Elderly
Question 8#

Cancer treatment in elderly patients is:

A. Always less successful
B. Complicated by the fact that clinical trials usually do not include elderly subjects
C. Recommended equally as in younger patients
D. Does not change overall life expectancy

Correct Answer is B

Comment:

The frequency of referrals for surgical treatment of equivalent stage cancer is decreased in the elderly for virtually all tumors. Despite this, survival after surgery is nearly equivalent for same stage malignancy as in younger patients. The data derived from clinical trials of adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy are less helpful for decision making in elderly patients because elderly subjects are usually not included in clinical studies.