Perspectives on aging: Progress and priorities for age-related cancers
This chapter shows that the research priorities in the biologic, psychosocial, and clinical aspects of the age-related cancers. It addresses aging and the clinical course of cancer. One example is breast cancer. The chapter discusses management issues and some progress in the psychosocial areas. There are a number of psychosocial impacts on treatment that are important. The chapter looks at the impact of changing delivery systems on psychosocial activities and the impact of managed care on the care of the older cancer patient. Care networks (CNS) changes are important in patient communications in dealing with cancer patients, and for CNS toxic drugs. Changes in the special senses like taste and salivary flow turn out to be extremely important considerations in nutrition for the elderly cancer patient and in using modalities such as radiation therapy especially for the upper half of the body.
