This innovative program identifies and addresses age-related health factors before and during your cancer treatment.
Normal aging typically means change. Some changes are physical, like hearing, vision, mobility and muscle strength. Some changes are emotional, financial, social or even cognitive. For many, this includes chronic health issues like heart disease, diabetes and obesity, which can lead to complex medication regimens, multiple physicians, and the need for specialty expertise for the older adult.
The Older Adult Oncology Program identifies and addresses any age-related physical, mental and social strengths and vulnerabilities that you may have in order to optimize your cancer treatment and experience.
Our goal is to ensure older adults facing a cancer diagnosis feel seen, heard, and supported. It is important to know that age is a number, and aging is a process. We will provide expert advice to tailor cancer treatments to the unique needs of the older adult.
Why it matters
Age is a key risk factor for a cancer diagnosis, and any cancer treatment plan must account for the unique challenges and needs of older adults. Someone who has unrecognized trouble hearing may miss important complex information about their treatment plan. A person who may have lost weight and muscle before their diagnosis may need medication changes, targeted physical therapy, and or nutrition support to prepare for optimal treats such as surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.
Medical specialists in aging are increasingly scarce regionally and nationally. The fastest growing age group in the U.S. is the 65 and older population, with the 85 and older segment growing even faster within that larger group — and the median age of cancer diagnosis is 66-67. Here at Roswell Park, more than 50% of our patients are 65 and older.
Who can participate in this program?
Roswell Park patients who are 65 and older can be referred by their primary oncologist or care team.
How the Older Adult Oncology Program works
Through an initial phone call and then an in-person visit, our specially trained nurses will evaluate key areas of your health and wellness, such as:
- Gait speed – to observe how quickly you normally walk, and whether you need to use a cane or other assistive device to walk short distances.
- Cognition – to see if you can recall and repeat back a series of three words and draw a clock with a given time.
- Medications – to determine if prescription medications you are taking may be causing interactions that adversely affect your quality of life.
- Mobility and independence – Have you fallen within the last six months? Can you shop, prepare your own meals, handle your finances and bathe or shower by yourself? Do you live alone or have access to transportation? Our nurses will also ask about your vision, hearing, or emotional state and other questions about your adult daily living.
How we can help
A visit with a geriatrician, an expert in conditions of aging, to collaborate with your other providers.
Physical, occupational or speech therapy to help your maintain independence and reduce falls.
Assistive hearing and/or sound amplification devices during your visits. We can also provide you with written materials and about your care.
Providing help with accessing transportation, you medications or addressing financial concerns
Evaluation of your food intake, any weight changes and basic body measurements to address malnutrition or risk of malnutrition.
You are not in this alone. We're here to help you and/or your caregiver through this cancer journey.
Why Roswell Park for older adult cancer care?
A cancer diagnosis can be stressful, and we all need help navigating next steps.
The Older Adult Oncology Program brings together Roswell Park oncology experts and board-certified geriatricians to integrate age-related vulnerability into our uniquely individualized cancer interventions.
For patients, their families and caregivers, the service adds an extra layer of expertise and compassion that reflects the full scope of Roswell Park’s expertise in comprehensive cancer care.