open access

Vol 70, No 4 (2020)
Review paper
Published online: 2020-07-27
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Oncogeriatrics (part 7.). Geriatric assessment for older patients with cancer

Jakub Kenig1, Kinga Szabat1
·
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2020;70(4):153-157.
Affiliations
  1. Department of General, Oncological and Geriatric Surgery, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland

open access

Vol 70, No 4 (2020)
Review article
Published online: 2020-07-27

Abstract

The geriatric assessment (GA) is defined as a multidimensional, interdisciplinary diagnostic process focusing on determining an older person’s medical, psychosocial, and functional capabilities that are not identified by routine evaluation. There is more and more data on the benefits of the GA in the evaluation and management process of older patients with cancer. It allows for the development of an individual cancer treatment plan resulting in less postoperative complications, redu­ced treatment toxicity, improved quality of life and very often without compromising survival. However, the relationship between specific domains of the GA and post-treatment medical outcomes, functional status and quality of life remains unknown. Moreover, there is still no consensus over what the “golden standard” GA should look like, which tools should be included and what cut-off should be used. This is still an active area of research. However, there is no doubt that under­standing the health status of an older patient with cancer should be as important as cancer staging and tumour biology.

Abstract

The geriatric assessment (GA) is defined as a multidimensional, interdisciplinary diagnostic process focusing on determining an older person’s medical, psychosocial, and functional capabilities that are not identified by routine evaluation. There is more and more data on the benefits of the GA in the evaluation and management process of older patients with cancer. It allows for the development of an individual cancer treatment plan resulting in less postoperative complications, redu­ced treatment toxicity, improved quality of life and very often without compromising survival. However, the relationship between specific domains of the GA and post-treatment medical outcomes, functional status and quality of life remains unknown. Moreover, there is still no consensus over what the “golden standard” GA should look like, which tools should be included and what cut-off should be used. This is still an active area of research. However, there is no doubt that under­standing the health status of an older patient with cancer should be as important as cancer staging and tumour biology.

Get Citation

Keywords

older patients; elderly; comprehensive geriatric assessment; frailty

About this article
Title

Oncogeriatrics (part 7.). Geriatric assessment for older patients with cancer

Journal

Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology

Issue

Vol 70, No 4 (2020)

Article type

Review paper

Pages

153-157

Published online

2020-07-27

Page views

843

Article views/downloads

701

DOI

10.5603/NJO.2020.0031

Bibliographic record

Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2020;70(4):153-157.

Keywords

older patients
elderly
comprehensive geriatric assessment
frailty

Authors

Jakub Kenig
Kinga Szabat

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