1 Supportive and Palliative Care Division, McGill University Health Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital, 1001 Décarie Boulevard, Montréal, Québec H4A 3J1, Canada; McGill Nutrition and Performance Laboratory, McGill University Health Centre, 5252 de Maisonneuve Boulevard, Suite 105-B, Montréal, Québec H4A 3S5, Canada. Electronic address: antonio.vigano@mcgill.ca.
2 McGill Nutrition and Performance Laboratory, McGill University Health Centre, 5252 de Maisonneuve Boulevard, Suite 105-B, Montréal, Québec H4A 3S5, Canada; Department of Clinical Nutrition, McGill University Health Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital, 1001 Décarie Boulevard, Montréal, Québec H4A 3J1, Canada.
3 Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
4 McGill Nutrition and Performance Laboratory, McGill University Health Centre, 5252 de Maisonneuve Boulevard, Suite 105-B, Montréal, Québec H4A 3S5, Canada; Department of Exercise Science, Concordia University, Loyola Campus, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec H4B 1R6, Canada.
5 McGill Nutrition and Performance Laboratory, McGill University Health Centre, 5252 de Maisonneuve Boulevard, Suite 105-B, Montréal, Québec H4A 3S5, Canada; Perioperative Program, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montréal, Québec H3G 1A4, Canada.

Pearls of optimizing nutrition and physical performance of older adults undergoing cancer therapy.

J Geriatr Oncol. 2017 Nov;8(6):428-436

Authors: Vigano A, Kasvis P, Di Tomasso J, Gillis C, Kilgour R, Carli F

Abstract

As the global population continues to age, the prevalence of cancer is increasing, with more than half of new cancer diagnoses occurring in those aged 65years and older. As a result of improved oncological care, a greater number of older patients undergo treatment, either chemoradiotherapy or surgery or both. The older oncology patient is not part of a homogenous group; chronological age poorly describes the health status of an individual. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) identifies domains, assessed by a multidisciplinary team, that should be considered to guide appropriate oncological treatment decisions. This paper will focus on two aspects of the CGA: the assessment of nutrition and functional status of the older patient with cancer. Optimization of both diet and physical activity may help patients improve their tolerance to oncological treatments and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Beginning with definitions of frailty, sarcopenia, cachexia, and malnutrition, this paper will suggest standardized screening, diagnostic and interventional procedures to identify and treat these conditions in the older oncology patient.

PMID: 28958666 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]