Should your patient have that oncology intervention?

Should your patient have that oncology intervention? - #36

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Diagnostic testing and treatment are determined based on ability to improve disease process or quality of life/goals of care.

Elderly patient with oncologic disease considering treatment intervention.

Determine appropriateness of oncologic intervention in the geriatric oncology patient through assessment of their overall physical health, cognition, function and social situation.

• List geriatric assessment tools to help identify patients who may benefit from oncologic intervention.
• Identify factors that may increase morbidity and mortality in older adults with oncologic disease.
• Formulate an appropriate prognosis of life expectancy.

  1. Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M, et al (eds.) SEER cancer statistics review, 1975- 2010, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD. Based on November 2012 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site 2013.
  2. Bowie MW, Slattum PW. Pharmacodynamics in older adults: a review. Am J Geriatr Pharmacother. 2007; 5(3):263-303.
  3. Walter LC, Lewis CL, Barton MB. Screening for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer in the elderly: a review of the evidence. Am J Med. 2005; 118(10):1078-86.
  4. Hurria A, Togawa K, Mohile SG, et al. Predicting chemotherapy toxicity in older adults with cancer: a prospective multicenter study. J Clin Oncol. 2011; 29:3457-3465.
  5. Karnofsky performance status scale definitions rating (5) criteria.http://www.hospicepatients.org/karnofsky.html
  6. ePrognosis: Estimating prognosis for elders. http://eprognosis.org
  7. Barthel index of activities of daily living. http://www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/igec/tools/function/barthelADLs.pdf
  8. The Lawton instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scale. http://consultgerirn.org/uploads/File/trythis/try_this_23.pdf
  9. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. http://ecog.dfci.harvard.edu/general/perf_stat.html
  10. Montreal Cognitive Assessment. http://mocatest.org
  11. The Mini-Cog test. http://geriatrics.uthscsa.edu/tools/MINICog.pdf
This GFF ___ my competence in geriatrics.

Gabriel Manzi MD,Thomas Giever MD, Nicholas Dreger, Kathryn Denson MD, Patrick Foy MD

Medical College of Wisconsin