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Diagnosis and management of haematological malignancies in older people

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2011

Helen Marr ,
Gail L Jones ,
Graham H Jackson  and
Wendy Osborne
Helen Marr
Affiliation:
Department of Haematology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne
Gail L Jones*
Affiliation:
Department of Haematology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne
Graham H Jackson
Affiliation:
Department of Haematology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne
Wendy Osborne
Affiliation:
Department of Haematology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Gail L Jones, Department of Haematology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN. Email: gail.jones@nuth.nhs.uk
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Summary

The incidence of most haematological malignancies increases with age. Given that those aged >65 years represent the fastest growing segment of Western populations, these cancers may commonly present to medical teams with an interest in older patients. Over the last 20 years there have been dramatic improvements in the outlook for patients diagnosed with haematological cancers, but there is evidence that many of these improvements have been restricted to younger patients. It is therefore important that older patients with haematological malignancies are rapidly diagnosed and promptly treated with the best available therapies. Clinical trials that specifically encompass older patients are clearly important. In this review, the presentation and management of common haematological malignancies will be discussed, including myelodysplasia, acute leukaemia, lymphoproliferative disorders and myeloma.

Keywords

elderlyleukaemialymphomamyelodysplasiamyeloma
Type
Clinical geriatrics
Information
Reviews in Clinical Gerontology , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , November 2011 , pp. 297 - 311
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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