[Care Needs of Elderly Patients With Cancer Receiving Treatment]

Cancer incidence is closely related to age. With the sharp increase in the elderly population in recent decades, the number of older adults with cancer has increased each year. Compared to middle-aged patients, older adults with cancer have relatively more-complex health problems during treatment, with aging, debilitation, comorbidities, cognitive dysfunction, and polytherapy important factors affecting the benefit received by these patients from their treatment. In view of the prevalence and particularities of cancer in the elderly population, health professionals must focus on individual needs in treatment and care as well as provide complete assessments and appropriate care plans to enable their safe and complete care management. Health professionals may use interprofessional teamwork and comprehensive geriatric assessments to understand the functional and cognitive statuses, comorbidities, nutritional status, treatment tolerance, and personal preferences of their patients and then provide care that meets their specific physical, mental, social and spiritual needs. In addition to having professional cancer care training, oncology care specialists should have professional knowledge of geriatric care to increase their sensitivity in assessing the needs of their elderly patients with cancer, provide treatment and care plans that meet their needs, and improve quality of care.