Call for rethink over older cancer patients (December 2012)

Well, lets see, I have CLL, and I am 53, and I am not getting any younger.

As if that wasn't enough to cope with, I live in England. Joy of bloody joys

bbc.co.uk/news/health-20780581

[HAIRBEAR_UK Founder Admin]

Hi Talesin

You can Join the Macmillan campaign to press for change.. There is a lot of information on their website. It is good that the recommendations about what can be done to improve assessment and care of older people with a diagnosis of cancer have been identified. The majority of our population falls into this category as the medium age of CLL diagnosis is 72. There is a lot of valuable support information for older people on the Macmillan website too..

The Macmillan Age Old Excuse Campaign was posted a little earlier today . It was good to see that they got the national press on the case.it was coordinated with emails to campaigners.. You can read more about the issues and pledge your support for The Macmillan Age Old Excuse campaign. on this link:

macmillan.org.uk/GetInvolve...

cllsupport.healthunlocked.c...

Some further information from Macmillan on this:

Did you know?

A recent survey of health professionals revealed:

• 45% have dealt with a cancer patient who has been refused treatment on the grounds they were too old

• 67% have heard older cancer patients spoken to in a condescending or dismissive way.

• 48% think assumptions about older people are resulting in them not getting the best treatment

Your stories

Everybody's needs are different. Read the stories we have heard from older people about their cancer experiences. If you want to help us improve care for older people, support our Age Old Excuse campaign you can also submit your stories too..

macmillan.org.uk/GetInvolve...

CANCER AND OLDER PEOPLE

We believe that everyone, regardless of age, should receive the highest standards of treatment and care. Read our information on:

• Questions to ask during treatment macmillan.org.uk/Documents/...

• Cancer diagnosis for older people macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfo...

• Treatment issues for older people macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfo...

• Information for carers macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinfo...

• Call us on the Macmillan Support Line macmillan.org.uk/HowWeCanHe...

Cancer Services Coming of Age:

Learning from the Improving Cancer Treatment

Assessment and Support for Older People Project

December 2012

You can Read the project report Here: macmillan.org.uk/Documents/...