[Demography and epidemiology facts in geriatric oncology]

For decades, the ageing of the French population is constant. It is about an important phenomenon with a clean active dynamics. In 2050, the persons of more than 60 years will represent 33% of the population, and the 85 years and more 7%. Jointly the incidence of the cancer increases considerably after 65 years. This conjunction makes that more than a cancer on two occurs in elderly patients. Mortality by cancer in this age bracket does not know the favorable evolution observed in young people. This is related to more advanced stages of the disease at the time of diagnosis, with the rarer use to active therapeutics. However the elderly would like as younger people to receive an effective treatment of their cancer. The general practitioner has a fundamental role to play in the early diagnosis and in the participation to the management of cancer patient.