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

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.