Demographic transition – Cancer trends in geriatric population of North India

Abstract Developing countries like India are witnessing a demographic transition resulting in population ageing. This population expansion will in future increase the burden of diseases more prevalent in older patients. Since cancer incidence increases with age, a surge in geriatric patients with cancer will soon overburden the health care system of our country. In anticipation of this change, present retrospective study done at a tertiary care centre highlights the cancer spectrum in all age groups with emphasis on geriatric patients. We stress upon the need for specialised care of these patients in India.