Abstract

According to WHO, older or elderly population referred to age ≥60 years. The social life, economic stability and psycho-emotional domains were disturbed when an individual diagnosed with cancer. The present study attempted to analyze the prevalence of cancer in elderly Indian women reported to Regional Cancer Centre, India and review the literature to have an insight of cancer trends in Indian scenario. The retrospective analytical study was carried out in Department of Radiation Oncology, RCC, Allahabad, India. The study included 2215 cases of elderly women of age ≥60 years from January 2013 to January 2016. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical package version 14. Quantitative data were presented as median and standard deviation. Qualitative data were expressed as frequency and percentages. The total number of cancer cases in elderly women accounted for 31.25% as per the hospital based registry during the 3 year study period. The disease pattern has shown different trend compared to younger adults. Cancer cervix being the most common age group among females as per the hospital registry. Gall bladder cancers and breast cancers were the second most common cancers in elderly women and adults (20-59 years) respectively. Overall cancer cervix being the most common malignancy followed by gall bladder cancer in females in the region. Limited knowledge and misconceptions were prevailed among the participants. Collaboration with multiple cancer registries, hospitals and tertiary centers’ nationwide can design a highly organized framework among elderly women with cancer which directs for potential future screening and detection programmes. Further research in gall bladder malignancy for early detection will reduce the mortality rates significantly. The article can be helpful for potential future research and directions.

Keywords: Cancer; Elderly; Women; India; Prevalence; Breast; Cervix; Trend; Framework; Registry

Abbreviations: HNC-Head and Neck Cancers; RCC-Regional Cancer Centre; AJCC-American Joint Committee on Cancer; FIGO- International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d’Obstétrique)