Myths and biases related to cancer in the elderly

Abstract

Advances in medical science have led to effective treatments for cancer; however, there are myriad myths and biases related to older people and cancer that pervade both patients' and professionals' ideas on causation, course of illness, treatment, and recovery, and act as hindrances to early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation. The geriatric population is comprised of a heterogeneous group of persons who are not categorized easily according to chronologic age. Health care professionals are particularly susceptible to ageist stereotyping and negative attitudes toward the elderly because they lack training in caring for older people. In the future, the elderly will be better educated, expect greater participation in decision-making, and be less likely to postpone entry into the medical care system. There is a need to educate both health care professionals and the elderly population about the myths and realities of cancer detection and treatment.