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Senior Adult Oncology. Overview. Cancer is the leading cause of death for those 60-79 years 60% of all cancers occur in patients who are 65 years or older Older individuals are more prone to develop cancer due to physiological changes associated with aging. Older Adults.
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Overview • Cancer is the leading cause of death for those 60-79 years • 60% of all cancers occur in patients who are 65 years or older • Older individuals are more prone to develop cancer due to physiological changes associated with aging
Older Adults Older patients can be classified into three categories: • Young Old: 65-75 years • Old: 76-85 years • Oldest Old: over 85 years
Age Distribution of U.S. Population, 1980, 1990, and 2005 Year 1980 Year 1990 Year 2005 85+ 80-84 75-79 70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 40-44 35-39 30-34 25-29 20-24 15-19 10-14 5-9 0-4 Data source: The Bureau of the Census
Frailty Decreased reserve and resistance to stressors Frail patients have an increased risk of complications from cancer treatments Risk for falling, disability, hospitalization, and death
Fraility Criteria • Unintentional weight loss (10 lbs or more in past year) • Self reported exhaustion • Weakness • Slow walking speed • Low physical activity
Malnutrition Polypharmacy Lack of Social Support Depression Dementia Fall Risk Geriatric Syndromes
Falls • One of the most common geriatric syndromes • 30-40% of adults older than 65 years fall each year • Risk factors: muscle weakness and impairments in gait, vision, cognition, and ADLs
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) • Able to bathe self • Able to dress self • Able to toilet self • Control over bowel & bladder • Able to transfer self • Able to feed self
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) • Use the telephone • Get to places beyond walking distance • Grocery shop • Prepare meals • Housework • Laundry • Take medications • Manage money
Percent of Medicare Beneficiaries Reporting Difficulty with IADLs or ADLs by Age, 2004 Percent (%) Data Source: Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey
Percent of Persons Age 65 and Over (age-adjusted) Reporting Selected Chronic Conditions by Sex, 2004-2005 Percent (%) Data Source: National Health Interview Survey
Years of Education Among Persons Age 65 and Over (age-adjusted) by Sex and Race/Ethnicity, 2006 Female Male Percent (%) Data source: Current Population Survey
Cancer Treatment Benefits: • Prolonged survival • Maintenance and improvement of quality of life and function • Palliation of symptoms
Cancer Treatments Risks: • Complications of surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy • Affects on cognition, function, balance, vision, hearing, continence, and mood
Treatment Decisions • Life Expectancy • Aggressiveness of Disease • Functional Abilities • Comorbidities • Patient Goals • Social Resources • Tolerance of Treatment
Treatment Decisions • Advanced age alone should not preclude the use of effective cancer treatment • Older patients with good performance status are able to tolerate most forms of treatments • Treatment that diminishes quality of life with no significant survival benefit should be avoided