Role of Comorbidity, Symptoms and Age in the Health of Older Survivors Following Treatment for Cancer

Men and women aged over 65 years represent 60% of the 10.8 million cancer survivors in the US. The proportion of older cancer survivors will increase significantly with the aging of the population. Unlike younger survivors, the experience of cancer in those diagnosed with cancer as older adults is often superimposed on existing health conditions, which disproportionately affect the elderly population. Understanding the extent to which having cancer contributes to decrements in physical, mental and social function, above and beyond the influence of other chronic health conditions and normative aging, will be critical to the long-term care of older cancer survivors. In this article, we review the extant research on the influence of comorbidity, symptoms and age on the health and functioning of older survivors following treatment for cancer. Future research directions are highlighted, along with several approaches to advancing the field, including the identification of strategies to deliver care to the older population after cancer treatment, changing how we view older adults and consider their health, and, finally, finding systematic approaches to monitor the impact of cancer on older survivors’ health and wellbeing.