Health
Elderly cancer survivors have reduced physical function
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 8, 2006
Older women who have survived cancer are less likely than counterparts who never had the disease to be capable of doing heavy housework, walking half a mile or going up and down stairs, according to a study in the April 19 Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
More than 25,000 women participating in the Iowa Women's Health Study filled out questionnaires about their functional ability. About 42% of those who had had cancer could not do heavy housework, compared with 31% who had not had this disease. Also, 26% of cancer survivors could not walk a mile, while only 19% of their healthier counterparts had this problem. In addition, 9% of cancer survivors had difficulties with stairs, while only 6% of their cancer-free counterparts had similar problems. Those were less than two years away from cancer treatment had the most problems.
The authors suggest that interventions are needed to maintain the quality of life for the growing number of elderly cancer survivors.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/05/08/hlbf0508.htm.
