The elderly are being denied vital cancer treatments by doctors who make ‘snap decisions’ based on their age, a report warns today. 

More than 80 per cent of older patients believe they suffer discrimination from the NHS. 

Many say they have been personally overlooked for an operation or another procedure.  Some were wrongly told by GPs they were too old for breast cancer screening or advised ‘not to worry’ about the early warning signs of prostate cancer. 

Elderly people have complained that the NHS has discriminated against them because of their age (file photo)

Others said younger, more ‘emotional’ patients were ahead of them in the queue for chemotherapy and were given more time and attention by nurses.  One 69-year-old man with cancer even accused the NHS of ‘culling older people’ by reserving the best, expensive treatment for the patients with longer lifespans. 

Figures show that the over-75s are up to five times less likely to be offered life-saving surgery than younger age groups.  Even doctors admit the health service is ‘institutionally ageist’. 

Some of the most eminent cancer specialists have called for expensive procedures to be rationed for the elderly, especially if they will only prolong life for a few months. 

Today’s report by Macmillan Cancer Support is based on interviews with 1,004 cancer patients over 55.  Some 84 per cent said they believed the NHS discriminated against the elderly and one in nine remember at least one occasion when they felt overlooked because of their age. 

Jagtar Dhanda, of the charity, said: ‘Too often the healthcare system makes snap judgments on an older person on the basis of their age, as opposed to what matters most to them.  Older people are simply not getting a fair deal when it comes to cancer care.’ 

Les Scaife, 84, is convinced he would be dead had he not demanded to have surgery to remove a tumour in his chest five years ago.  The retired bricklayer from Southport, Lancashire was told repeatedly by his GP and consultants to continue with drugs even though they were having little effect. 

One man suffering from cancer said the NHS was actively trying to cull older people with the disease, pictured

Once he was told by a surgeon he ‘didn’t have time’ to carry out the operation as he had too many other patients. ‘ Everyone was going on about my age,’ he said. ‘ I got the impression they were trying to dissuade me.’ 

One 69-year-old woman said she was denied screening for breast, bowel and cervical cancer even though these extend to patients in their early seventies. 

Another 64-year-old woman said: ‘Younger ones on chemo get very emotional and maybe get more attention than older people who rein it in a bit more.  We are all scared of cancer underneath it all.’ 

Another 69-year-old man said: ‘It’s almost like they are culling the older people.  The best treatment will go to the younger ones who have potentially a longer lifespan left.’ 

The report also challenged the assumption that the elderly themselves are refusing treatment.  Only 2 per cent said they had declined an operation or procedure because of worries such as side-effects. 

Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, said: ‘To jump to the conclusion that someone is unsuitable for treatment on the basis of their age alone is plain ageist and thus totally unacceptable.’