Supportive care in older adults with cancer – An update of research in 2015

• Published in: Journal of geriatric oncology 2016-09, Vol.7 (5), p.397-403
• Main Author: Steer, Christopher B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Geriatric assessment; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Geriatric oncology; Geriatrics - methods; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medical Oncology - methods; Neoplasms - psychology; Neoplasms - therapy; Older adults; Patient Care Team - organization & administration; Patient-Centered Care - standards; polypharmacy; Psycho-oncology; Rehabilitation; Supportive care
• ISSN: 1879-4068; 1879-4076
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jgo.2016.04.005

Abstract The motto of the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) is “supportive care makes excellent cancer care possible”. This is especially important in the care of older adults with cancer. The use of geriatric assessment in this patient population enables targeted supportive care interventions to work alongside appropriate anticancer therapy. It is the opinion of this author that geriatric oncology is mostly about the provision of streamlined, appropriate supportive care. There are many facets of supportive care of patients with cancer that are important regardless of age. These include issues such as the use of appropriate antiemetics, infection management, oral health, nutritional intervention, psychosocial care, and palliative care. This article provides an update on novel yet important supportive care research specifically in older adults with cancer published in peer-reviewed journals in 2015. This year saw important publications in geriatric assessment, psychosocial care, in the information and supportive care needs of older adults and the role of pharmacists and rehabilitation specialists in the geriatric oncology clinic.