Quality of life in elderly cancer patients

Increasing age is a major risk factor for developing cancer and the number of older people is rapidly expanding. Therefore, cancer in the geriatric po pulation is becoming an emerging problem. Older patients are extremely heterogeneous. Instruments collecting informat ion related to comorbidity and disability, (which have both been demonstrat ed to affect the survival of elderly patients) may help treatment decision. The G.I.O.Ger (Gruppo Italiano di Oncologia Geriatrica) has validated a Com prehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) scale for geriatric cancer patients, and we recommend its use in clinical practice. Our findings suggest that ca ncer adversely affects physical performance and psychological status less t han other comorbidities. Many aspects of physical limitations are not total ly recognised by performance status, in particular those aspects of daily l ife that require instrumental activities and that may affect adherence to d iagnostic or therapeutic protocols. Quality of life as a main objective in the management of elderly cancer pat ients is now recognized by many clinicians. In clinical practice, quality of life means maintenance of function and sym ptom control, and quality-of-life instruments rated by the patient rather t han by clinicians should be preferred. Whether it is preferable to use canc er-specific or generic instruments is an ongoing debate.