Geriatric Assessment and treatment recommendations in Breast cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Geriatric Assessment Tool application in treatment recommendations for older women with breast cancer - a feasibility study
IRAS ID
240141
Contact name
Asma Munir
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hywl Dda Helath Board
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
18/WA/0332,
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
With an increase in the older population the world over, the expected proportion of older women with early breast cancer is expected to grow considerably. However, older patients receive less than standard therapy as compared to younger women. This difference in treatment is related to the differences in extent of breast cancer, existing medical conditions, and the general health status of older women and the potential toxicity of proposed therapies. With the lack of screening in these patients, they also tend to present late. Moreover, these patients have generally been excluded from the clinical trials evaluating the treatment of breast cancer. This has resulted in a lack of evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of breast cancer in older women and most of the treatment recommendations are extrapolated from the guidelines for younger women.
The European and International Organization of Geriatric Oncology guidelines encourage the health boards to develop local protocols for formal assessment of health status of older women with breast cancer, to guide treatment recommendations. The formal geriatric assessment assesses the functional status, existing medical conditions, and general well being of the elderly patient. The collaboration between geriatric and oncology team could identify modifiable patient factors, active intervention of which can result in reduce morbidity and mortality, and improved quality of life.
This study aims to evaluate whether the use of Geriatric Assessment Tool in older breast cancer patients results in a change in the treatment recommendations of older breast cancer patients.
A formal assessment of older patients will not result in any delay in the treatment. The initial MDT decision will be accepted as treatment recommendation. Any change to recommendations will be recorded for the research outcomes. Patient will be informed about both the decision (if different) and the final decision regarding the treatment will be in conjunction with the patient.REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
18/WA/0378
Date of REC Opinion
23 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion