Cancer Research in the United Kingdom has made a startling prediction when it comes to older members of society and cancer. According to its figures, the number of elderly people diagnosed with cancer each year could increase to as much as 80 per cent by 2035.
The study, which focuses on the British public, claims there could be an increase of a quarter of a million diagnoses in less than 20 years. In Australia, 134,174 new cases will be diagnosed this year, while more than 44,000 people died due to cancer in 2013, according to the Cancer Council Australia.
Cancer Research UK says that while cancer survival rates have doubled over the past 40 years, that rate is significantly lower when it comes to older members of the community. The data, published in the Advancing Care, Advancing Years: Improving cancer treatment and care for an ageing population report, claims older people are more likely to be diagnosed in an emergency and are actually less likely to receive curative treatment.
To stop the numbers of people being diagnosed, there are calls for health services to act now and ensure they’re prepared to properly care for older patients who may have more multiple health needs.
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“If we do nothing the disparity in care between older and younger cancer patients will only grow,” says Cancer Research UK’s policy manager Rose Gray. “It’s vital to address this if we want to realise our ambition of ensuring world-class treatment for everyone in the UK who is affected by cancer.”
Of course, an increase in those diagnosed with cancer is also being felt in Australia. According to the Cancer Council, 19,000 more people die from cancer today than they did three decades ago. The Council says this is due to population growth and ageing, however, also notes the death rate has actually fallen by more than 16 per cent. In fact, more than 66 per cent of those diagnosed with cancer in Australia are expected to live longer than five years after being diagnosed.
For Cancer Research UK’s head information nurse Martin Ledwick, he says medication and other health problems can make it more difficult for older people to respond well to cancer treatment.
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“Some older people with cancer might not be fit enough to have surgery and go through lengthy periods of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but as no two patients are the same, there will be others who are,” he notes. “That’s why it’s so important staff are well trained and resourced so they can assess older people properly and ensure they receive the right treatment, care and support specific to their individual needs.”