As a result, elderly cancer sufferers not covered by social security face catastrophic and impoverishing expenditures and significant risk of
morbidity and death from these malignancies. Given the poor prognosis from these malignancies if untreated or managed sub-optimally,
palliative care services are highly important. However, surveys to date within Mexico highlight the difficulties in access to opioid analgesics
for pain, the absence of palliative care policies and expertise, and the continued high usage of acute inpatient beds for patients dying with
advanced malignancy, which uses valuable resources [88, 89]. One study reported that old age was associated with an increased likelihood
of home death. This has implications for the organisation of palliative care services, with the necessity for strong community support