1. Onco-Geriatric Approach for the Management of Older Patients with Cancer
- Author
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Cesari, Matteo, Colloca, Giuseppe, Cerullo, Francesco, Ferrini, Alessandro, Testa, Antonia Carla, Foti, Elvira, Ciaburri, Michele, Scambia, Giovanni, Bernabei, Roberto, and Gambassi, Giovanni
- Subjects
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ACADEMIC medical centers , *OLDER people , *ELDER care , *BIOMARKERS , *CANCER chemotherapy , *CANCER patients , *CANCER patient medical care , *COMPARATIVE studies , *DEPRESSION in old age , *DIAGNOSIS , *DRUG utilization , *DRUG side effects , *EPIDEMIOLOGY , *GERIATRICIANS , *HEALTH care teams , *HOSPITAL wards , *LONGITUDINAL method , *EVALUATION of medical care , *HEALTH outcome assessment , *PSYCHOLOGICAL tests , *RESEARCH funding , *X-ray densitometry in medicine , *STATISTICAL power analysis , *DATA analysis , *PERFORMANCE evaluation , *MULTIPLE regression analysis , *BODY mass index , *TREATMENT effectiveness , *RETROSPECTIVE studies , *PATIENT selection - Abstract
Introduction and Rationale: The number of older cancer patients is increasing with global aging of the population. A close interaction between oncologists and geriatricians becomes necessary to (1) better evaluate the elders’ health status, (2) determine their residual clinical/biological reserves, and (3) optimize the provided medical care. In fact, aggressive antineoplastic managements are often denied to older patients, possibly because of the common misconception suggesting older age and/or clinical complexity as absolute contraindications to advanced treatments. Methods: The primary aim of the presented project is to assess whether assigning a geriatrician to provide daily medical care to older cancer patients (aged 65 years and older) admitted to an oncology ward increases the number of patients eligible for a chemotherapeutic and/or surgical intervention. The project is articulated in 2 phases: (1) a retrospective phase based on analysis of data collected over the 2 years before the beginning of the study, and (2) a prospective 2-year intervention. Additional information about clinical conditions, biological parameters, adverse drug reactions, body composition, physical function, and 1-year health-related events will also be recorded. Outcomes: The combination of expertise from oncologists and geriatricians is likely to result in (1) an improved selection of candidates for interventions aimed at increasing disability-free life expectancy and/or overall survival, and (2) a more rational exclusion of patients at higher risk of toxicity or with poor prognosis. In this article, the development of an onco-geriatric unit aimed at the evaluation, management, and treatment of older women with gynecological cancer is also described. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2011
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