What is oncogeriatrics?
Oncogeriatrics is the combination of two specialties, cancerology and geriatrics. This practice aims to guarantee all elderly cancer patients treatment adapted to their condition through a multidisciplinary and multiprofessional approach. Indeed, most of the time, cancer treatments are heavy, aggressive and long with a significant impact, especially in the elderly. Side effects may be accentuated as well as toxic reactions or vulnerability following chemotherapy. Finally, issues related to the patient’s age or state of health are often added to the cancer pathology, and affect in particular the efficacy and tolerance of a treatment.
From what age do we speak of oncogeriatrics?
Age is the first risk factor for the disease. Oncogeriatrics is aimed, according to the WHO, at people from the age of 65. In France, it is rather patients over 75 who are concerned. It also bears witness to a public health problem linked to the general aging of the population and the increase in the overall risk of developing cancer with age. Indeed, with the increase in the number of elderly people in the French population, the care of those suffering from cancer has become a major problem for the public authorities and healthcare teams. Insee’s demographic projections predict that in 2060, one in three French people will be over 60 years old.
Why are there more and more cases of cancer in the elderly?
The number of cancers in the elderly is increasing due to longer life expectancy, namely 83 years for women and 77.9 years for men. Age is one of the most important risk factors since the incidence of cancer is 10 times higher in patients over 65 years old. Thus, out of 365,500 new cases in France, 70% of cancers occur after the age of 65. They cause 72% of deaths according to national cancer institute. This high mortality is explained by several factors: the nature of the tumors in question, different from those affecting younger patients, but also the poorer state of health of elderly patients, the delay in diagnosis and the treatments which are not always appropriate. . Offering specific care to elderly people with cancer is therefore a priority.
What are the types of cancer in the elderly?
For many types of cancer, the risk of occurrence increases with the duration of exposure to risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol. Not all cancers are equally affected by this ascending curve: it is more particularly the most common cancers, in particular prostate cancer in men, breast cancer in women, colon and rectum, certain skin cancers, lymph node and bone marrow cancers (lymphoma, myeloma, leukaemia), ovarian cancers or even rarer cancers, such as those of the stomach and bladder. The challenge is therefore to take care of the patient as quickly as possible and this requires early diagnosis. A good assessment of the general state of health and a good knowledge of the side effects of treatments is also necessary for optimal care.
What are the latest advances in this area?
That’s the challenge: diagnosing patients in time and offering specific care to elderly people with cancer. Because for a long time, the anticancer treatments prescribed to the elderly were not necessarily adapted to the specificities of this type of patient, who, in addition to their cancer, have chronic diseases, a less good ability to tolerate treatments, or even a loss possible autonomy. Thus, for physicians, the risks of oncological treatment in relation to the benefits often remain difficult to assess with advancing age. However, the situation has clearly evolved in recent years and bridges between the health professionals concerned, in particular between oncologists and geriatricians, have become essential. The goal is to pool their skills and define the best care for each elderly person, according to their clinical profile, general condition and expectations. If 30 years ago, chemotherapy was in its infancy, the real revolution in recent years has been in multidisciplinary care, allowing the specialist to no longer be alone with his patient.
It is in this context that the world of French oncology is meeting in Monaco from 22 to 24 March. Research, clinical applications, treatments and practical workshops will be program of the Monaco Age Oncology congress. The specificity of the event lies precisely in its multidisciplinary approach. The congress is therefore aimed not only at oncologists and geriatricians but also at other health professionals working in oncogeriatrics, such as radiotherapists, technologists, pharmacists, clinical research associates and caregivers. The sessions, for their part, deal with different types of cancers such as breast, gynecological, pulmonary, urological, digestive and hematological cancers.
Debates will enrich the congress with cutting-edge topics, such as the practice of suitable physical activity for cancer patients, the use of the most innovative treatments, such as immunotherapy and problems of elderly patients suffering from both cancer and forms of dementia. Themes that will make it possible to advance research and improve patient care.
Three novelties complete the event: Workshops dedicated to caregivers as well as an international session, with renowned specialists in oncogeriatrics on Thursday afternoon. Finally, on March 22 and 23, the first edition of the Accelerated Workshop in Oncology. The goal? Allow oncologists, generalists or more specialized, to meet recognized experts in their field such as senology, gynecology, thoracic oncology, digestive oncology, urology and supportive care. This format of workshops-meetings in small groups has a dual purpose: to take stock of the latest developments in the disciplines covered and, through the analysis of specific cases, to present the practices of each according to the situations encountered. Workshops that will undoubtedly help advance the field of general oncology through this very pragmatic approach.