Treatment of the older lung cancer patient
The majority of people diagnosed with lung cancer are over 65. Older people experience pain differently and their lung cancer treatment may be complicated by other health concerns. Other factors such as sensitivity to the toxicity of chemotherapy may require special consideration. However, research shows that age alone should not dictate lung cancer treatment options.
Learn about treatment of older cancer patients
Lichtman, Steeart. 2003. Guidelines for the treatment of elderly cancer patients. Cancer Control 10(6):445-53.
White and Cohen. 2006. The older cancer patient. Med Clin N Am 90:967–982
Treating pain in older patients (National Cancer Institute)
Surgery
Kowdley et al. 2012. Cancer surgery in the elderly. (The Scientific World Journal)
Razdev and Keller. 2006. Surgery for lung cancer in elderly patients. (American Society for Clinical Oncology Educational Book)
Chemotherapy
Davidoff et all. 2010. Chemotherapy and survival benefit in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer. JCO vol. 28 no. 13 2191-2197
Summary of a 2010 study that showed combination chemotherapy improved survival for elderly lung cancer patients (OncoLink)
Stereotactic radiation gives elderly lung cancer patients an alternative to surgery, results of a study presented at the 2011 World Lung Cancer Conference (Internal Medicine News)
