老人腫瘤學: 老年腫瘤病患的臨床評估

The increasing cancer incidence with aging becomes more and more important as the life expectancy extends. Balducci (2000) indicated that 50% of all cancer occur in the person whose age is 65 years and older; by the year of 2020, 60% of all cancer will be affecting the elderly. The increasing incidence and death rate of cancer also become a major health issue in Taiwan. According to the report from Department of Health, cancer has been the first killer among ten leading caused of death in Taiwan since 1976 (2002). From the ten leading causes of death by age, the increases in incidence and death rate of cancer raise most quickly among three major populations :1) older than 85 years; 2) between 70 to 74 years; and 3) between 65 to 69 years. With the aging of the population, cancer in the elderly will become an increasing common problem in the whole world. To provide a complete and appropriate treatment to the elderly with cancer will be the most important issue in the future. The purpose of this article is to emphasize that an appropriate treatment for cancer patients can be given only after the elderly has been appropriately assessed for his or her health level by using a geriatric approach.