Treatment and Prognosis of Lung Cancer in the Elderly

The prognosis of 537 lung cancer patients who were 70 years old or over, was compared to that of 1319 patients whose age was younger than 70. In resected cases, the 5-year survival rates in patients who were younger than 70, 70-79 and 80 or older, was 50.5, 48.8 and 42.9%, respectively. There was no statistical difference in survival among the above age groups. In unresected cases, the 5-year survival rates in elderly patients with stage I disease was only 13.5%. There was no statistical difference in survivals between those treated classified by supportive care, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or combined therapy.