Antineoplastic chemotherapy of the older cancer patient.

Cancer chemotherapy may be effective and safe in older patients if some proper provisions are made. Doses of chemotherapy should be adjusted to the patient's glomerular filtration rate, and his or her hemoglobin should be maintained for the duration of the therapy. For patients who are 70 years of age or older and who are receiving moderately toxic chemotherapy, growth factors should be used. The risk of mucositis increases with the age of the patient, so it is important to treat it aggressively at the first signs of the complication.