A new approach to the care of elderly metastatic cancer can significantly improve the way they understand and deal with the prognosis of the disease, bringing higher quality of life during cancer treatment. This is what shows a Brazilian study presented on Sunday (1st) at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco), the largest scientific event in the area that takes place in Chicago, the United States.
It analyzed data from an intervention called GAIN-S (Geriatric Assessment-Guided Supportive Care Intervention), recommended by the ASCO guidelines for patients 65 or over in several Brazilian states. The proposal goes beyond the standard treatment by providing personalized care based on a geriatric evaluation.
According to Cristiane Bergerot, psycho-oncologist, national leader of specialty multidisciplinary team of Oncoclinicas and study leader, important aspects of the health of elderly patients with metastatic cancer were evaluated, such as physical function, cognition, mood, comorbidities, nutrition, [uso de mais de um medicamento recorrente] and social support.
Based on the results of this assessment, a specialized and multidisciplinary team – with oncologist, psychiatrist, psychologist, nutritionist and personal trainer – elaborated and implemented personalized interventions, with the objective of improving the clinical outcomes and quality of life of patients.
“Geriatric evaluation has allowed to identify vulnerabilities that are often not captured in traditional evaluations,” Bergerot explains to CNN. “With this, professionals were able to adapt cancer treatment more individualized, considering the needs and limitations of patients,” he adds.
According to the expert, the studied showed that there was a significant improvement in understanding the prognosis by patients who participated in the intervention – that is, they began to have a clearer sense of the purpose of treatment and the expectation of disease evolution.
“This has favored a more aligned decision making with their values and goals, promoting more person -centered care,” says Bergerot.
With a 93%adhesion rate, the study shows that it is possible to implement an adult -centered approach with 65 years or older even in challenging contexts. The intervention used the Parentic Awareness Impact Questionnaire questionnaire, a tool validated and sensitive to emotional and behavioral changes, allowing accurately assessing how patients feel and react to information about their clinical status.
“Elderly with cancer have very distinct characteristics and needs of younger patients. They often have multiple comorbidities, fragility, risk of toxicities and different treatment preferences,” says Bergerot. “An approach such as Gain-S recognizes this heterogeneity and allows more personalized care, which not only improves clinical outcomes (such as physical function and humor), but also promotes autonomy, treatment safety and greater alignment with patient values,” he adds.
According to Cristiane Bergerot, the results indicate that there is room for welfare models more sensitive to the emotional and cognitive needs of elderly patients. “When we offer time, listening and structured care, even in complex clinical situations, the impact may be surprising. And this, more than a scientific discovery, is an ethical commitment to those facing an advanced disease,” he concludes.
