Preoperative evaluation of the older patient with cancer

The lack of knowledge has helped us in progressing with the aim of offering the right surgical treatment to the right patient at the right time. Preoperative assessment of frailty identifies those patients who are at a higher operative risk, more prone to develop complications, spend more time in hospital and cost more to the community. Phase IV trials are becoming essential in expanding our understanding, while randomized clinical trials are unlikely to add substantial value in this field of clinical research.