Changes in the patterns of health care delivery have shifted the care of the elderly from acute care settings to the community and long-term care facilities. As the European population ages, more and more people will become nursing home residents, many of whom will have a suspicion of, or be diagnosed with, and eventually die from, cancer. Although cancer is very common in elderly nursing home residents, it is poorly studied. This lack of information may impact on clinical decision making and the appropriateness of treatments offered and therefore collection of this information is needed.