Management of older cancer patients: updated recommendations of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG)

Abstract

Abstract More than 60% of cancers will be soon diagnosed after 70 years, sparing no country, no culture, but even more importantly no single physician involved in the management of cancer in adults. Ironically, clinical trials setting our standard of cares include very few older selected patients, who usually are not representative of most, making conclusions poorly evidence-based for this largest segment of our patients population. Improving clinical practice in geriatric oncology is a key mission of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) in order to reverse this situation and prejudice. It can be achieved through education, as the SIOG International Course in Geriatric Oncology in Treviso now in preparation for its 7th edition in 2020. The development of specific guidelines is another vital line of action. Indeed nothing is better than framing practice conditions with repeated guidance to support such practical field showing so many unmet clinical needs, biased representations and management. SIOG has a long standing history of developing such literature, from guidelines to consensus papers, reviews of the literature, or expert position papers, covering both disease-oriented topics or more transversal ones. We shall review SIOG publications from the last 3 years, including nutritional management, quality of life, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, rectal cancer, prostate cancer, and HER2-positive breast cancer. Of note, many of these landmark publications by SOG require regular updates to maintain appropriate knowledge and skills, keeping our community up to speed. They rely on a large dissemination by high-quality journals including the journal of the society, the Journal of Geriatric Oncology. This JSMO-JCOG-SIOG joint symposium highlights the strength of these recommendations which require international cross-fertilization and collaboration to step up to the challenge of our moving society, catering for all, not leaving the frailer ones behind.