Cancer and older people. A research collection and commentary on the theme.

Cancer disproportionately affects older adults, who account for the majority of diagnoses and deaths globally. However, research and clinical care often fail to adequately address their unique needs. This collection of studies in Age and Ageing highlights challenges and opportunities in geriatric oncology.

Age-related differences in staging, treatment and net survival in relation to frailty in adults with colon cancer in England: an analysis of the COloRECTal cancer data repository (CORECT-R) resource.

Objective: To describe the distribution of disease stages, receipt of major surgery, 1-year net survival (NS) and 1-year conditional NS in relation to age and frailty in adults aged ≥50 diagnosed with colon cancer in England.

Methods: We obtained data on adults aged 50-99 diagnosed with colon cancer between 2014 and 2019, followed up through December 2021, from the national population-based COloRECTal cancer Repository. Frailty was assessed using the Secondary Care Administrative Records Frailty (SCARF) index categorised into fit, mild, moderate and severe frailty.

Conversation coaching in dementia: a feasibility study.

Purpose: Conversation abilities of people with dementia are impacted by cognitive-communication deficits. Communication interventions can improve quality of life by increasing positive interactions and well-being. This study evaluates the feasibility of a conversation coaching intervention for people with dementia and their communication partners.

Self-reported electronic symptom monitoring in older patients with multimorbidity treated for cancer: Development of a core dataset based on expert consensus, literature review, and quality of life questionnaires.

Introduction: In cancer care, symptom monitoring during treatment results in improved clinical outcomes such as improved quality of life, longer survival, and fewer hospital admissions. However, as the majority of patients with cancer are older and have multimorbidity, they may benefit from monitoring of additional symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify a core set of symptoms to monitor in older patients with multimorbidity treated for cancer, including symptoms caused by treatment side effects, destabilization of comorbidities, and functional decline.

Geriatric assessment for older people with cancer: policy recommendations.

Most cancers occur in older people and the burden in this age group is increasing. Over the past two decades the evidence on how best to treat this population has increased rapidly. However, implementation of new best practices has been slow and needs involvement of policymakers.

Challenges of caring for older patients with multimorbidity including cancer.

Introduction: As the population is ageing, the number of older patients with multimorbidity including cancer continues to increase. To improve care for these patients, the European Union-funded project "Streamlined Geriatric and Oncological evaluation based on IC Technology" (GERONTE) was initiated to develop a new, patient-centred, holistic care pathway. The aim of this paper is to analyse what challenges are encountered in everyday clinical practice according to patients, their informal caregivers, and healthcare professionals as a starting point for the development of the care pathway.

Impact of Epithelial Histological Types, Subtypes, and Growth Patterns on Oncological Outcomes for Patients with Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer Treated with Curative Intent: A Systematic Review.

Context: The optimal management for men with prostate cancer (PCa) with unconventional histology (UH) is unknown. The outcome for these cancers might be worse than for conventional PCa and so different approaches may be needed.

Objective: To compare oncological outcomes for conventional and UH PCa in men with localized disease treated with curative intent.

Patient Preferences for Treatment Outcomes in Oncology with a Focus on the Older Patient-A Systematic Review.

For physicians, it is important to know which treatment outcomes are prioritized overall by older patients with cancer, since this will help them to tailor the amount of information and treatment recommendations. Older patients might prioritize other outcomes than younger patients. Our objective is to summarize which outcomes matter most to older patients with cancer.

What Defines Quality of Life for Older Patients Diagnosed with Cancer? A Qualitative Study.

The treatment of cancer can have a significant impact on quality of life in older patients and this needs to be taken into account in decision making. However, quality of life can consist of many different components with varying importance between individuals. We set out to assess how older patients with cancer define quality of life and the components that are most significant to them.

Systematic Review of Active Surveillance for Clinically Localised Prostate Cancer to Develop Recommendations Regarding Inclusion of Intermediate-risk Disease, Biopsy Characteristics at Inclusion and Monitoring, and Surveillance Repeat Biopsy Strategy.

Context: There is uncertainty regarding the most appropriate criteria for recruitment, monitoring, and reclassification in active surveillance (AS) protocols for localised prostate cancer (PCa).

Objective: To perform a qualitative systematic review (SR) to issue recommendations regarding inclusion of intermediate-risk disease, biopsy characteristics at inclusion and monitoring, and repeat biopsy strategy.

Evidence Acquisition: A protocol-driven, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA)-adhering SR incorporating AS protocols published from January 1990 to October 2020 was performed.

Postoperative delirium in older patients with cancer: the role of psychological distress and social support.

Purpose Of Review: Delirium is a common and important adverse event in the perioperative period. Older people with cancer are at significant risk, and outcomes are poor. There is increasing awareness of the effect of psychological distress and social support on pathogenesis and outcomes of delirium in this setting.

Information needs of older patients newly diagnosed with cancer.

Background: Understanding what information patients want and need is an important step in optimizing care. Therefore, we set out to collect all available evidence about the information that is most important to older patients with a new cancer diagnosis and whether or not these information needs are sufficiently addressed.

Method: A systematic literature review of Embase and Medline.