Palliative care among elderly cancer patients: Own experience

Annually, more than 27,000 persons die of cancer in the Czech Republic. It is known that in addition to the demographic aging of the Czech population, the cancer burden is increased.

These data clearly demonstrate the need for affordable and good follow-up care for patients, especially for older patients and/or patients with no other cancer treatment due to irreversible progression of tumor.

We are talking about so-called palliative cancer care, which can be provided at different levels. One of the most common forms of palliative cancer care is hospice care.

Our clinic in the years 2008-2010 received a total of 446 patients. 288 of them were women and 158 men. The average age of women was 61 years (age range 20-81 years). The average age of men was 56 years (age range 18-96 years). The performance status was in the fitness category PS-0 (8%), PS-1 (54%), PS-2 (33%) and PS-3 (5%).

Currently the outpatient palliative cancer care are coming more into the forefront. This type of care allows patients to stay as long as possible at home among their close relatives. Prerequisite for a well working outpatient palliative care is cooperation with general practitioners and home health care agencies.