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A Surgeon’s Guide to Treating Older Patients With Colorectal Cancer

  • Surgery and Surgical Innovations in Colorectal Cancer (S Huerta, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Colorectal Cancer Reports

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Review strategies to improve outcomes of colorectal cancer treatment in older patients.

Recent Findings

Older colorectal patients face many barriers to recovery during their initial inpatient stay following surgery and after leaving the hospital. In addition to the risk of inpatient morbidity and mortality, older patients are more likely to require post-acute care services to face nutritional deficits and to experience complications of chemoradiation.

Summary

In order to improve outcomes for older patients with colorectal cancer, it is important for surgeons to recognize their unique needs and to develop plans to address them. The involvement of a multi-disciplinary team with geriatric experience can guide planning for surgery, the immediate postoperative recovery, and long-term survivorship.

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Acknowledgments

Simon C. Lee is supported by the National Cancer Institute (grant no. R01CA203856).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 4500 S. Lancaster Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75216, USA

    Sooyeon Kim & Courtney J. Balentine

  2. Department of Clinical Sciences, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Simon C. Lee & Celette S. Skinner

  3. Birmingham/Atlanta Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Care Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Cynthia J. Brown

  4. Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Cynthia J. Brown

  5. VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX, USA

    Courtney J. Balentine

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  1. Sooyeon Kim
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  3. Celette S. Skinner
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  5. Courtney J. Balentine
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Correspondence to Courtney J. Balentine.

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Kim, S., Lee, S.C., Skinner, C.S. et al. A Surgeon’s Guide to Treating Older Patients With Colorectal Cancer. Curr Colorectal Cancer Rep 15, 1–7 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11888-019-00424-4

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