Cancers diagnosed after age 85 are more likely to be found at a later stage — despite over-screening in this age group — and are less likely to be treated surgically, a large observational study reveals.

For the study, US researchers combined data from the National Cancer Institute, the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, and the National Center for Health Statistics.

More than half of those aged over 85 had received either a stool screening test within the past year, or either a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy within the past five to 10 years.

Further, nearly 30% of men had received a PSA test within the past year.