Dr Battisti discusses a new ecancer special issue which covers different aspects of the care of older adults with cancer.

Topics include the role of various National Health Service (NHS) initiatives in the UK aimed at this population to the epidemiology of cancer in older adults in Mexico and the specific challenges for implementing geriatric oncology care there.

Dr Battisti concludes that the many recent advances in this field suggest that the time is now to implement the principles of geriatrics to the routine care of older adults with cancer and to maximise their inclusion in clinical trials.