Prostate cancer: Management in elderly men population in 2017

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in elderly patients. Localized disease is treated following almost the standard of younger patients. However, the treatment depends on health status evaluation. Only patients in good health status with aggressive prostate cancer will benefit of curative treatment, based on the induced comorbidities. Surgery is often not the best option, based on the increased side effects with increased age, compared to external beamradiotherapy. In nonmetastatic situations, androgen deprivation monotherapy has only a minimal place, while it is the standard of care in metastatic situations. Most patients with castrationresistant disease can receive standard treatment. Early introduction of palliative care is mandatory in order to optimize the outcome. Disease aggressiveness and health status are the two main factors to consider, on top of patient’s wishes for final decision-making.