| Abstract: | Two hundred twenty-six patients eighty years of age or older were seen over a twelve year period, and 156 underwent surgery. These patients tolerated surgery well when complications were avoided. The five year absolute survival rate was 22.4 per cent, and the corresponding age corrected figure was 53.3 per cent. On the basis of this analysis, the prognosis of elderly patients with colorectal cancer is more favorable than of the young. Considering that these patients may have an otherwise reasonable life expectancy, it seems justified to resect the colorectal cancer and to expect a rewarding survival rate. |
