References

Hamaker ME, Rostoft S Geriatric assessment in older patients with cancer: a new standard of care.. Lancet.. 2021; 398:(10314)1853-1855 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01998-X

Macmillan. Statistics Fact Sheet.. 2022. https://tinyurl.com/37w3mw5a

Mohile SG, Mohamed MR, Xu H Evaluation of geriatric assessment and management on the toxic effects of cancer treatment (GAP70+): a cluster-randomised study.. Lancet.. 2021; 398:(10314)1894-1904 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01789-X

The future of geroncology

24 October 2024
Volume 33 · Issue 19

As the global population experiences a demographic shift, understanding the complexities of ageing becomes crucial for both individuals and professionals. Geroncology brings together the sciences of gerontology and oncology, and is the multidisciplinary study of ageing and the issues related to ageing. It covers, among others, the fields of nursing, medicine, psychology, sociology, social work and public health, and focuses on understanding the physical, psychological and social aspects of ageing and finding ways to enhance the quality of life for older individuals.

There are currently 3 million people living with cancer in the UK, estimated to reach 5.3 million by 2040 (Macmillan, 2022). On average, in the UK, a person is diagnosed with cancer every 90 seconds. Advanced cancer predominantly affects older adults and the challenge of how to best treat this patient group has led to the emergence of geriatric oncology (Hamaker and Rostoft, 2021).

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