This case study recounts the experience of Arthur, a 78-year-old male diagnosed with non-Hodgkin‘s Lymphoma (NHL). The case study focuses on the Specialist Cancer Nurse‘s role in the provision and coordination of care for people with NHL, as well as exploring issues associated with diagnosis of cancer in the older person.

The case study contains five sections:

• Reduce risk
• Find the condition early
• Have the best treatment and support during active treatment
• Have the best treatment and support between and after active treatment
• Have the best care at the end of life.

This case study recounts the experience of Harold, a 75-year-old male diagnosed with lung cancer. This case study aims to facilitate the development of competencies that reflect the role of the Specialist Cancer Nurse (SCN) in preventing and managing disease and treatment related care for a person at risk of or diagnosed with lung cancer across the cancer journey.

The case study contains five sections:

• Reduce risk
• Find the condition early
• Have the best treatment and support during active treatment
• Have the best treatment and support between and after active treatment
• Have the best care at the end of life.

This case study recounts the experience of Burt, a 68-year-old male diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. This case study aims to facilitate the development of competencies that reflect the role of the Specialist Cancer Nurse (SCN) in the delivery of evidence-based supportive care, including provision of information and education for people affected by oesophageal cancer.

The case study contains four sections:

• Reduce risk
• Have the best treatment and support during active treatment
• Have the best treatment and support between and after active treatment
• Have the best care at the end of life.

The Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) identified a need for a strategic and focused approach to managing cancer in older people in Australia. This report documents the 1-day workshop convened by COSA in Sydney on 4 April 2008. It was attended by over 70 national and international participants from the fields of oncology and geriatrics.

The aims of the workshop included:

• identifying and assessing the priority issues to be addressed
• scoping current and future infrastructure needs
• raising awareness of the specific and unmet needs of elderly patients with cancer
• encouraging targeted professional support, education, research and funding for geriatric oncology
• drawing on international expertise in geriatric oncology
• creating a 'Cancer in the Elderly' COSA special interest group
• ultimately, improving patient outcomes.

Building upon the strengths of the popular reference, Cancer in the Elderly, this guide outlines novel approaches in the identification and management of cancer in geriatric populations by world-renowned experts on the topic.

Presenting new trends and strategies in surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, this source presents a multidisciplinary and best-practices approach to the optimization of cancer care for the elderly and collects the most recent findings gleaned from prevention, adjuvant, neo-adjuvant, and treatment research.

Supported by the American Nurses Association (ANA) Nurse Competence in Aging Grant, this presentation discusses oncological issues in the aged.

Part one (2 hrs, 31 mins) discusses important trends of aging, normal changes in older adults, common assessment tools, and drug related problems of older adults.

Part two (2 hrs, 26 mins) discusses common cancers found in older adults and nursing interventions that can make important differences in nursing care, treatment, and over-all quality of life for older adults with cancer. Program objectives for learning outcomes are listed on the website for each recording.

Please note: You need to scroll down the page to locate the Geriatric Oncology webcasts

A National non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the age based disparities in research, education and treatment in the older adult cancer population.

The goals of the Geriatric Oncology Consortium are:

• To promote high quality research that expands knowledge of the aging process and cancer
• To conduct education programs for all health care professionals which promote better understanding of the unique challenges associated with the management of older adults with cancer and ultimately to enhance the quality care for these patients
• To increase awareness of the relationship between aging and cancer and to provide the knowledge to empower the population to be an active partner in their healthcare decisions.

International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) aims to improve research in the field of geriatric oncology; promote education in geriatric oncology, in order to ensure a high standard of qualification for health professionals; and maintain liaison with other medical and health professionals associations, cancer leagues, universities and, where appropriate, the pharmaceutical industry.

IThe site includes a link to Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, the Official Journal of the International Society for Geriatric Oncology (SIOG); and includes information regarding relevant events; literature; and updates on clinical trials.

The Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) has identified a need for a strategic and focused approach to managing cancer in older people in Australia. Given the lack of formal recognition in Australia of onco-geriatrics as a specialist oncology discipline, the first identified task is to assess priority issues to be addressed.

The Geriatric Oncology interest group is actively promoting these groups aims:

• Publications - to increase awareness around geriatric oncology issues and invite people for further comment.
• Clinical trials – members are scoping with the objective to link into appropriate clinical trials.
• Increasing awareness - the group members are raising awareness of geriatric oncology in the Australian perspective.
• Service delivery & models of care -   the interest group can provide some practicalities on how to deal with the problem.
• Fostering the combined training – to foster oncology geriatric training and encourage trainees to lead in research in this area.

March 2008, 32(1) edition of Cancer Forum, the official journal of the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia, dedicated to geriatric oncology and issues relating to cancer in the elderly.

An edition of Journal of Clincial Oncology (Volume 25, Issue 14, May 10, 2007), the official journal of American Society of Clincial Oncology, focusing on the diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of cancer in the elderly and the future areas of research and development that are required to care for the world‘s increasingly ageing population.

Seminars in Oncology provides current, authoritative, and practical reviews of developments in the diagnosis and management of patients with cancer. Each issue examines a single topic of clinical importance.

This December 2008 edition (Volume 35, Issue 6, Pages 557-652) focuses on Cancer in Older Adults. Elderly cancer patients may differ from younger patients but there is a lack of evidence-based data about elderly patients.

This journal addresses issues specifically in elderly patients with cancer including:

• cancer-related fatigue
• cognitive effects of hormonal therapy on older patients
• treatments for specific cancers including prostate, ovarian and lung cancers in the elderly
• the decisional capacity of the elderly and the relationship of cancer therapies to osteoperosis.

ASCO has gathered links and synthesized data on geriatric oncology from a multitude of key sources, including the Journal of Clinical Oncology and other ASCO publications, text books and Virtual Meeting presentations to assist health professionals to locate current, in-depth information and latest research on geriatric oncology topics.