Abstract
Older patients with frailty present additional factors to be considered when making decisions about cancer treatment that can increase uncertainty about the best course of action to take. Frailty can be due to decreased reserves and comorbid conditions across somatic, psychosocial and functional domains. Each of these aspects can affect prognosis and remaining life expectancy, risk of complications and a patient’s ability to tolerate treatment as well as patient priorities and preferences. In addition, factors related to disease, treatment and the physician, further contribute to the challenge of shared decision-making for this growing patient population. This chapter discusses all these factors in more detail, highlighting how they may affect the decision-making process or present a barrier to incorporating shared decision-making into consultations with older cancer patients with frailty. Furthermore, the chapter proposes key questions that can support the patient and the multidisciplinary team in optimising the shared decision-making process in this complex setting.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Frailty in Older Adults with Cancer |
Publisher | Springer International Publishing AG |
Pages | 203-218 |
Number of pages | 16 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9783030891626 |
ISBN (Print) | 9783030891619 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2022 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cancer
- Frailty
- Older
- Oncology
- Patient preferences
- Shared decision-making
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine