Open AccessManagement of The Elderly Cancer Patients Complexity: The Radiation Oncology Potential
Author(s) -
Giuseppe Colloca,
Luca Tagliaferri,
Beatrice Di Capua,
Maria Antonietta Gambacorta,
Vito Lanzotti,
Andrea Bellieni,
S. Monfardini,
Lodovico Balducci,
Roberto Bernabei,
William C. Cho,
Vincenzo Valentini
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
aging and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.808
H-Index - 54
ISSN - 2152-5250
DOI - 10.14336/ad.2019.0616
Subject(s) - medicine , life expectancy , quality of life (healthcare) , cancer , intensive care medicine , radiation oncology , radiation therapy , disease , cancer treatment , palliative care , geriatric oncology , nursing , population , environmental health
Radiation oncology has the potential to be an excellent option for the frail elderly cancer patients because of its limited systemic toxicities. It can be effective for curative, prophylactic, disease control or palliative purposes. Currently about 60% of all cancer patients undergoing active treatment at some point receive radiation treatment. However, though widely used, there are limited clinical trials strictly designed for the elderly. This paper will review the key points in the assessment and treatment of elderly cancer patient including quality of life, active life expectancy, cognitive performance, frailty, sarcopenia and how the new technologies can help to reach the key goal of maintaining autonomy and independence for the elderly cancer patient.