The implications of ageing and life expectancy in prostate cancer treatment

Selection of treatment for a patient with prostate cancer is often based on age and life expectancy. However, life expectancy estimates are often calculated solely on the basis of chronological age, overlooking comorbid conditions and their severity, which affect life expectancy. Here, the authors discuss how factors other than chronological age should be used to assess life expectancy and enable the most appropriate treatment options to be selected. Older, healthy patients might be able to tolerate more-aggressive treatments than their age might indicate, and younger patients with numerous comorbid conditions could avoid harsh therapy if inappropriate.