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Exploring the experiences and perceptions of cancer care treatment decision making for older people with cancer: A
Sharon He1, Heather L Shepherd2, Meera Agar3
1Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Introduction:
Cancer becomes more common as people age. However, little is known about the cancer care experiences of older people. This paper aimed to qualitatively explore experiences and perceptions of older adults with cancer and carers on the impact of ageing on treatment decision-making and cancer care.
Materials And Methods:
Self-identified older adults with cancer and independent carers of an older adult with cancer participated in a semi-structured telephone interview. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis using a framework approach identified key themes.
Results:
Nineteen older adults with cancer and nine carers participated. Patient participants had a mean age of 74 years (range 66-90 years), most were diagnosed with blood (n = 9) or breast (n = 8) cancer and had a mean time of 6 years since initial diagnosis. Majority of carers were female (n = 7), providing care for their spouse/partner (n = 6), with a mean age of 63.5 years (range 44-73 years). Thematic analysis identified three themes: (1) Impact of age in treatment decision-making: assumptions and discussions, (2) Factors that influenced patient treatment decisions, and (3) Cancer and ageing-related supports, encompassing the role of the carer and their capacity to provide support.
Discussion:
This paper provides insights into the impact of age on cancer care for older adults and questions the underlying assumptions we have when considering an "older" adult and their treatment preferences. Results also highlight the importance of assessment and support for carers.
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