[Why and how to assess older people with cancer?].

Hôpital militaire Begin, unité de recherche clinique, Saint-69 avenue de Paris, 94160 Saint-Mandé, France. Electronic address: carole.helissey@gmail.com. Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, unité d'oncogériatrie, service de gériatrie, 20, rue Leblanc, Paris, France. Saclay University of Paris, Drug Development Department (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, 114, rue Edouard-Vaillant, 94805 Villejuif, France. Institut Curie, université PSL, département d'Oncologie médicale, 26, rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris cedex 05, France. Institut Curie, université PSL, département interdisciplinaire de soins de support pour le patient en oncologie (DISSPO) et département d'oncologie médicale, 35, rue Dailly, 92210 Saint-Cloud, France.

Bulletin du cancer. 2021;(5):513-520
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Abstract

The older population accounts for almost 60% of new cancers. Their management is a public health problem and is complex. It raises different questions: Is the patient's prognosis linked to cancer or another pathology? The heterogeneity of this population emphasises the importance of the overall condition assessment, in particular to avoid over-treatment (or under-treatment), and to be able to identify frail or vulnerable elderly patients who are at risk of having more treatment toxicities. Through this article, we will recall the importance of geriatric in-depth evaluation (EGA) by detailing the different factors that impact the therapeutic decision, tolerance to treatments… This EGA is however time-consuming and not all patients can be evaluated. In order to identify the subjects covered by this EGA, screening scales have been developed. Finally, we will develop the place of research in oncogeriatric management.

Methodological quality

Publication Type : Review

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