Cancer rates, medical comorbidities, and treatment modalities in the oldest patients.

Cancer disproportionately afflicts older patients, with 56% of incident diagnoses and 71% of deaths occurring in this population. Yet little is known about the "oldest of the old", oncology patients underrepresented in clinical trials. We examined elderly veterans diagnosed with lung, colorectal, prostate or head-neck cancer in 2005 (n=194,797), analyses comparing treatment receipt by age group, 70-84 versus 85-115.

Using a pilot curriculum in geriatric palliative care to improve communication skills among medical students.

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an elective geriatric palliative care course on medical students' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors regarding communication with terminally ill patients. Surveys were administered at the beginning and end of the elective. Despite a significant increase in knowledge about geriatric and palliative medicine (F=24.