Cancer and aging - An evolving panorama

The association of cancer and aging is becoming more common with the aging of the general population. This association brings about questions related to the pathogenesis, biology, management, and prevention of cancer. Aging m ay predispose people to cancer because many of the molecular changes of agi ng parallel early carcinogenic changes. Aging may influence cancer growth b y two different mechanisms: different cancers (acute myelogenous leukemia), different tumor host (large cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), or a combination of both (breast cancer). Prevention of cancer in older persons may include both chemoprevention and screening. The management of cancer in the older person is based on an assessment of risks and benefits provided by comprehe nsive geriatric assessment.