Optimizing shared decision making in older adults with basal cell carcinoma: experiences from a specialized outpatient clinic.

Abstract

Balancing the risk for under- and overtreatment in older adults with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) frequently proves challenging.1,2 As BCCs are slowly growing tumors and initially asymptomatic, patients with limited life expectancy (LLE) might frequently be overtreated,2 leading to unnecessary and avoidable treatment burden, while little or no improvement in quality of life might be achieved. To improve patient-centered care for older BCC patients, it was hypothesized that a more holistic approach, with specific attention for patient-related factors and treatment goals, leads to different BCC management choices, better aligning with patient preferences, and resulting in less overtreatment.