FREQUENCY OF CANCER TYPES IN PATIENTS AGED 65 AND OLDER: RESULTS FROM CANCER REGISTRY DATABASE OF HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS

Abstract

Introduction: Elderly population is increasing in our country as in all over the world. We aimed to investigate the frequency of the leading cancer types in patients aged 65 and older. Materials and Method: Data of cancer patients admitted to Hacettepe University Hospitals from 1st January 2003 to 31st December 2007 were evaluated through the cancer registry system data base. Frequencies of the five leading cancer diagnoses were analyzed for both sexes among cancer patients aged 65 and older. Results: Total number of cancer patients aged 65 and older registered to database between 2003 and 2007 was 4789 (2732 men and 2057 women). Number of geriatric cancer patients in 2007 was twice that of 2003 (1205 vs 641). Male to female ratio was 1 in 2003 and 1,5 in 2007. Most frequent cancer type in geriatric women was breast cancer for all study period followed by uterine corpus, ovarian, cervix and colorectal cancers. Prostate cancer was the most frequent malignancy among elderly men. Other frequent cancers among men aged 65 and older were lung, bladder, colorectal and gastric cancers, respectively. Conclusion: Frequencies of the leading types were similar in both geriatric population and younger adults. However prostate cancer was more frequent than lung cancer in geriatric men.