According to a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, it is believed that surgery, which involves chemotherapy helps victims survive a longer duration, said Dr. Robert Fletcher of Harvard Medical School.

The survey involved 675 people suffering from stage III colon cancer across five regions in the United States, who underwent surgery. The researchers concluded that the elderly patients, who underwent chemotherapy absorbed minimal doses and were healthier than the average aged cancer patients.

Doctors also allude that lack of clinical trials may be the probable cause pertaining to multiple illnesses and drug toxicity found in elderly patients as the study says. Thereby it was concluded that older patients suffering from colon cancer are less likely to receive chemotherapy sessions after surgery as compared to the average aged people as they have shown to have fewer side-effects post treatment.