Trends in cancer mortality among Poland’s oldest old (aged 85 years and older)

Introduction. The population of Poland’s oldest old has increased substantially in recent decades. We evaluate mortality rates for all major cancers and their trend changes between 1999–2018. Material and methods. Cancer death data (1999–2018) were extracted from the World Health Organization (WHO) database. Age-standardized rates, and annual percent changes (APC) were determined. Results. Overall, 1 out of every 8 cancers are diagnosed over age 85+. Women are more often diagnosed than men at a ratio of 2.6 to 1. With regards to the cancers with the highest mortality rates, APCs increased for lung (0.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.1–0.9) and breast (2.3; 95% CI: 1.7–2.9) cancer among women. Colon cancer also increased among men (2.7; 95% CI: 1.7–2.2). Conclusions. Substantial progress in cancer prevention has been made due to access to diagnostic testing, treatment, and a reduction of smoking. However, there is a need for comprehensive cancer centers that are equipped to administer and coordinate complex and personalized cancer care for the growing elderly population.