WS2-6 - The Role of Siog, International Society of Geriatric Oncology

Abstract

The International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) is a multidisciplinary society, including physicians in the fields of oncology and geriatrics, and allied health professionals and has over 1000 members in more than 40 countries around the whole world.MISSION and VISION: The goal of SIOG is to foster the development of health professionals in the field of geriatric oncology, in order to optimize treatment of older adults with cancer.THE SIOG 10 PRIORITIES INITIATIVE: The world population is aging. In developed countries, half of the cancers already occur in patients aged 70 and older, so geriatric oncology is rapidly coming to the foreground of oncology practice. In booming Asian nations, such as South Korea or Japan, the aging trend is particularly striking. In fact, by 2050 the majority of older persons will live in developing countries. As older patients have a very variable health status, the need for proper integration of an oncologic and a geriatric approach has become increasingly important. Incorporating geriatric principles into routine oncology care will serve to optimize the treatment and reduce the functional impairment of older cancer patients and its associated social and personal costs. Given the size of the problem, governmental health agencies, international and local organizations, academic institutions, and the medical community at large will need to identify and primarily target the most pressing issues. Expert input is invaluable in this process, and therefore SIOG decided to build an expert consensus on top priorities within the field of geriatric oncology, based on the input from experts from each world continent.SIOG GUIDELINES (TASK FORCES): Recent areas reviewed are radiation therapy and lung cancer, both published in Annals of Oncology in 2014. Forthcoming publications will be in lymphoma and colorectal cancer.NEXT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES: 14th SIOG Annual Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, October 23-25, 2014.