Cancer chemotherapy in the elderly

Balducci, L.; Phillips, D.M.; Wallace, C.; Hardy, C.

American Family Physician 35(3): 133-143

1987


ISSN/ISBN: 0002-838X
PMID: 3548292
Document Number: 299585
Although age may reduce the physiologic reserve of many systems, elderly patients with good performance status may receive chemotherapy without undue toxicity. Both survival and quality of life may be improved by treatment of responsive neoplasms, such as acute leukemia, multiple myeloma, small cell cancer of the lung, lymphomas and breast cancer. Age-related decrements in glomerular filtration rate and cardiac reserve suggest that doses of renally excreted drugs and cardiotoxic anthracyclines should be reduced in the elderly.

Document emailed within 1 workday
Secure & encrypted payments