THE ROLE OF MEDICAL COUNSELING IN SECONDARY PREVENTION OF CANCER IN THE ELDERLY

In western countries the elderly are those who experience the major im pact of cancer, as epidemiologic data clearly show. Thus, secondary pr evention of cancer (SPC) in older persons deserves more attention than it has received until now. Target subjects, however, are often reluct ant to enter SPC plans. The reasons range from the lack of knowledge a bout the importance of SPC to the underevaluation of the risk of cance r, or, even more often, to the anxiety and fear that may stem from suc h a clinical investigation. In this context, the intervention known as couseling finds its natural and essential role. In the paper some gen eral considerations on the significance of medical counseling is given , with particular emphasis on its role in SPC in the elderly. The anal ysis herein reported points out the specific skills and methods that p hysicians can adopt to cope with the eventually adverse influences tha t may affect the participation of the elderly in SPC initiatives. Howe ver, such action should avoid any paternalistic approach and respect t he patient's will and autonomy.