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Palliative Care: Special Considerations for Older Adults with Cancer

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Geriatric Oncology

A diagnosis of cancer can be devastating to an individual and his or her family. After the initial shock, the focus shifts to living with a chronic illness. However, the recurrence of disease, an initial diagnosis of advanced cancer, or metastasis often signals that a change in the course of care is required. Too often at this juncture, health-care providers tell their patients, “Nothing more can be done,”; a phrase that must be expelled from medical professionals’ vocabulary, as there is always something that can be done, albeit with a different end goal. Palliative care is a philosophy of care that seeks to improve the quality of life along the cancer continuum. Though not all elderly individuals with cancer will require specialist palliative care services, all will benefit from the knowledge and implementation of its core tenets.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Manitoba Palliative Care Research Unit Research Associate, Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Genevieve N. Thompson

  2. University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Harvey M. Chochinov (Professor)

Authors
  1. Genevieve N. Thompson
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  2. Harvey M. Chochinov
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Correspondence to Genevieve N. Thompson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. City of Hope National Medical Center, E. Duarte Road 1500 , Duarte, 91010-3000, U.S.A.

    Arti Hurria

  2. Research Institute, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center &, Magnolia Drive 12902, Tampa, 33612, U.S.A.

    Lodovico Balducci

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Thompson, G.N., Chochinov, H.M. (2009). Palliative Care: Special Considerations for Older Adults with Cancer. In: Hurria, A., Balducci, L. (eds) Geriatric Oncology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-89070-8_11

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