The elderly cancer patient: a nursing perspective

Since cancer incidence tends to increase with age, health professionals wil l encounter ever-greater numbers of older people with cancer. Elderly cance r patients present complex problems that need comprehensive physical and ps ychosocial support. In order to give specialised care to this segment of th e population, a multidisciplinary approach must be used; only in this way c an an individualised treatment program be provided. Oncology nurses are an important component of this team and can contribute significantly to the pa norama of needs of this segment of the population, which include the preven tion and early detection of cancer, the use of state-of-the-art treatments, patient education, care during and after hospitalisation and quality of li fe (QOL) issues. In this way, the older person with cancer can be treated i n an optimal manner and survival can hopefully be improved in a meaningful way. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.