The marriage: Geriatrics and oncology

Cancer always has been a disease of greater incidence and morbidity in the elderly, and sociodemographic trends predict this fact to escalate in the d ecades ahead. Optimum care of older adults with cancer can be-enhanced thro ugh the marriage of two disciplines that have matured in recent years: geri atrics and oncology. This article reviews issues of cancer care for the eld erly, including the strengths and challenges of this special population, qu ality of life considerations, and future directions.