DURING a five year period, around 5,484 people aged over 75 in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch can expect to receive a cancer diagnosis.

Now older people with cancer are being urged to ask vital questions about their care in the light of evidence that ageism in the NHS is stopping some older patients getting the best treatment.

David Crosby, regional manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Two people of the same age may have very different needs and will cope with cancer treatments differently.

One 78-year-old may be bed-bound, while another may take part in half marathons.

As such, they should be treated as individuals. In spite of this, chronological age is an all too common a factor in cancer treatment recommendations.”

Macmillan Cancer Support has published essential cancer questions in a booklet called Cancer and Older People.

Copies can be obtained by calling the Macmillan’s Support Line on 0808 808 00 00 or from website be.macmillan.org.uk Macmillan is also calling for a range of actions from healthcare providers in England to ensure treatment decisions aren’t based on age alone and to give health professionals specialist training in elderly care.

To pledge support for Macmillan’s Age Old Excuse campaign visit macmillan.org.uk/ageoldex cuse and find out more information.