The Authors report their experience in the surgical management of cancer in the aged (over 65 year old patients), during the period 1988-1992 at the Istituto Policattedra di Scienze Chirurgiche, University of Siena. They consider colon and rectum, breast, stomach, pancreas and biliary tract neoplasms in relation to site, staging, emergency or delayed surgical treatment, and early postoperative results. Finally, they outline the frequently encountered problems in treating old patients and the most appropriate surgical approach.