nine percent of the participants had been referred to medical oncologists, somewhat lower than the 88 percent seen among younger patients in other research, the investigators report. Sicker patients were roughly half as likely to be referred as healthier patients. There is "growing evidence," the researchers note, that variations in cancer care seen with age may lead to worse outcomes for older people. "Our findings suggest that more consistent referral of older women to medical oncologists may enhance the quality of discussions and decisions concerning treatment options," they conclude. "The main implication is that treatment decision-making in cancer, whether it's breast cancer or any other kind of cancer, is complex and obviously emotionally charged," Silliman added. "I think offering older women the same kind of opportunity for treatment decision-making conversations is really important, because many of these women have a substantial future life expectancy," she concluded.
