Conclusions
A review of the epidemiology of cancer and age allows concludes:
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Age is a risk factor both for cancer and carcinogenesis, at least up to age 95;
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Multiple primary malignancies are more common in older individuals. In many case each of these neoplasms is amenable to cure or life-prolonging treatment. Possible exceptions include localized low grade prostate cancer in men aged 70 plus and smoldering acute leukemia
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The biological behavior of cancer may be altered with age: in some cases the neoplasm may become more resistant to chemotherapy, in other cases more aggressive and in other cases more indolent;
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Cancer is prevalently a disease of healthy elderly individuals whose life expectancy and quality of life may be compromised by cancer.
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Balducci, L., Aapro, M. (2005). Epidemiology of Cancer and Aging. In: Balducci, L., Extermann, M. (eds) Biological Basis of Geriatric Oncology. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 124. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-23962-6_1
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