Cancer: a disease of the elderly.

Healthcare providers can expect to see a steadily growing number of elderly patients with cancer. The US population is aging, and the incidence of cancer and cancer mortality are increasing. Sex-related differences in the incidence of cancer become apparent after the age of 64 years, with a higher lifetime risk of cancer in men. The process of aging at the subcellular level contributes to the development of cancer. The cost of cancer to society is hundreds of billions of dollars a year, and the direct, indirect, and intangible costs of cancer to a patient can be devastating. Elderly patients' out-of-pocket expenses for treatment and care can come at a time when their financial reserves are diminishing. Managing cancer in older patients is complicated by their shorter life expectancy and greater risk of treatment complications because of the high prevalence of comorbidities, decreased hematopoietic reserves, cognitive impairment, functional decline, and depression. The goals of managing cancer in older patients may differ from those in younger patients, as the potential benefits of treatment decrease and the risks of treatment and the need for supportive care increase.