Gynecologic cancer in the very elderly

Due to the increasingly elderly population of the United States, it was elected to review the experience at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in treating women older than 75 years of age for gynecologic cancer. The charts of 114 patients were reviewed to study the presentation of primary cancers, the morbidity and mortality associated with therapies, and patient survival. Cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were the most common associated medical problems. 36% of patients had endometrial cancer, 25% cervical cancer, 19% vulvar cancer, 12% ovarian cancer and 7% vaginal cancers. Compared to data for patients of all ages in Annual Report on the Results of Treatment in Gynecologic Cancer (Vol. 18), patients with endometrial, cervical, and vulvar cancers were of a significantly more advanced stage than expected. Therapy was modified due to patient age or medical status in 42 patients. No postoperative mortality was encountered, although patients often required multiple prolonged hospitalizations. The projected overall survival rate (Kaplan-Meier Analysis) was 44% at 5 years. It is concluded that despite their advanced age and associated medical problems, very elderly patients can usually receive definitive cancer therapies, including surgery, after careful preoperative medical evaluation and therapy.