Cancer Surgery in Elderly People - Specific Facts Concerning the Management: Review of Literature

Abstract

As the life expectancy raised, the general surgeon deals with more elderly patients thus the importance of understanding the specific problems and management. The main difficulties evaluated are suboptimal treatment; ineffective assessment; comorbidities and multidrug-use; lack of education in elderly care; lack of social support; age discrimination and priorities of the patient. Health care providers must be vigilant, if they are to treat and cope with the challenges that come with elderly patients. They must see the heterogeneity of the population and be prepared to deal with them accordingly, the chronological age is not a barrier and neither our preconceived ideas.