Abstract
Objective
Geriatric oncology in India is still in infancy. With the aging population emerging
as one of the most significant global demographic shifts, primarily driven by increased
life expectancy, increasing incidence of cancer among older adults is concerning.
Further age-related comorbidities, treatment intolerance, and toxicities often affect
treatment decisions for older cancer patients. Punjab being labeled as cancer capital
of India must have dedicated registry for such patients.
Materials and Methods
One year retrospective observational study to evaluate the spectrum of malignancies
in elderly population was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Punjab.
Results
Out of 955 cancer cases, 608 (63.6%) were in individuals aged 60 and above, with 326
(53.6%) cases in males and 282 (46.4%) cases in females. A significant gender difference
was noted, with higher breast cancer prevalence in women (n = 85, 30.1%) and hematolymphoid cancers (n = 97, 29.7%) in men.
Conclusion
With the aging population, there is a critical need for cancer prevention, screening,
and treatment strategies for the elderly, addressing age- and gender-specific risk
factors for better outcomes in geriatric oncology.
Keywords
cancer prevalence - geriatric oncology - India - Punjab - tumor types
