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Addressing the Needs of Older Patients With Cancer
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Older patients who are newly diagnosed with cancer often have special needs, says Janine Overcash, Ph.D., associate professor of clinical nursing and director of the Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Program at The Ohio State University.
Older patients who are newly diagnosed with cancer often have special needs, says Janine Overcash, Ph.D., associate professor of clinical nursing and director of the Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Program at The Ohio State University.
Overcash discussed these needs during a presentation titled "Envisioning Next Generation Multidisciplinary Cancer Care" at the Association of Community Cancer Centers 34th National Oncology Conference.
Seniors are more likely to have other health complications at the time of their cancer diagnosis that the health care team must keep in mind. Also, the treatment team must also consider that these patients may have lost key parts of their social support system.
To give this group of patients the best care possible, Overcash said that not only should their individual needs be met, but they also need longer clinical encounter times and to be treated by an interdisciplinary team, which can improve outcomes and quality of life.
