Geriatric Assessments Could Fine-Tune Cancer Care for Older Adults

A new American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guideline recommends all adults 65 and older get a geriatric assessment when considering or undergoing chemotherapy, reports California Healthline . The purpose is to better identify who can tolerate intensive chemotherapy, and which persons may need modified treatment regimes due to underlying conditions, such as cognitive impairment, that oncologists often miss. Fewer than 25 percent of older adults with cancer currently receive such assessments. "These recommendations will capture the attention of oncologists, I think, and that will be incredibly valuable," says Corinne Leach at the American Cancer Society. Experts recognize a changing demographic reality for cancer specialists, who are treating increasingly older people as longevity grows. In the United States, 60 percent of those newly diagnosed with cancer are 65 or older, as are more than 60 percent of cancer survivors. The assessments recommended by ASCO can be done in about 20 minutes, and identify people at elevated risk of serious side effects from chemotherapy. Doctors can then implement measures to address these risks, such as prescribing physical therapy for older individuals with muscle weakness or ordering a diet consultation for someone with malnutrition; they also can alter chemotherapy regimens to minimize the potential for harm.