Article

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment: A Case Report on Personalizing Cancer Care of an Older Adult Patient With Head and Neck Cancer

Fay J. Strohschein

Allison Loucks

Rana Jin

Brandy Vanderbyl

case report, geriatric assessment, older adults, head and neck cancer
CJON 2020, 24(5), 514-525. DOI: 10.1188/20.CJON.514-525

Background: Understanding multidimensional screening and assessment is key to optimizing cancer care in older adults.

Objectives: This article aims to present comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) as an approach to personalizing care for older adults with cancer.

Methods: A case study of an 89-year-old man with head and neck cancer is presented as a framework to describe the process of CGA and an overview of geriatric oncology screening and assessment.

Findings: CGA enables personalized care by informing decision making about cancer treatment and guiding implementation of enhanced supportive interventions. Screening tools can help identify older adult patients who would benefit from CGA. Oncology nurses can integrate geriatric assessment tools into practice to identify and address age-related concerns, facilitate communication, and contribute to personalization of care.

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