Via practica 5/2021

The role of palliative medicine in geriatric oncology

Approximately 54% of new cancer patients and 70% cancer deaths occur in patients older then 65 years of age. Geriatric age associated limitations are mainly: frailty with or without functional deficit and symptom complexity associated with social support and resilience. Geriatric frailty assessment can alleviate the toxicity of anticancer treatment without compromising the overall survival. The anticipation of complications with the complex view on functional, social and psychological reserves of the patient are the main principles of geriatric assessment that are applied in palliative care assessment all together with symptom management. There are intersection and possibilities for identification and coping functional reserves of geriatric patients although there is a lack of geriatric oncologists and palliative care specialists.

Keywords: geriatric oncology, palliative medicine, geriatric frailty