Report shows older Canadians less likely to receive recommended cancer treatments than younger patients

The 2014 Cancer System Performance Report

reveals that some older Canadians with colon, lung or breast cancer are not receiving guideline-recommended radiation and chemotherapy at the same rate as younger patients with these cancers.

This report was developed by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. Here are some details contained in the new report about age-related differences in treatment, along with findings related to end-of life care:

- The use of post-surgical chemotherapy to treat colorectal cancer was close to 80% for patients under age 60, but dropped to below 50% for patients over 70.
- Only 40% of breast cancer patients aged 80 years and over received radiation therapy following breast conserving surgery as recommended by national guidelines, compared to 85% of patients younger than 80 with the same disease.