title: [Definition and outline on geriatric oncology].
abstract: Geriatric oncology is the concept for management of elderly cancer patients. It is an equal approach of the health status problems and of cancer in a patient considered as a whole. Therefore it is not a subspecialty but a practice which can be translated in the elderly cancer patient's care. The treatment of cancer is based on the same principles than this of younger patients; recommendations used are those of the scientific oncological societies. Health problems of elderly patients are screened by specific tools. Patients without major health problems are managed by the oncological team in the routine; those for whom screening have demonstrated problems are first evaluated in the geriatrics setting and then oncological decisions are adapted to the patient situation. Decisions are made in specific geriatric oncology conferences. Specific clinical trials are required to build an Evidence Based Medicine background. Geriatric oncology teaching programs are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Département de Cancérologie Médicale, Centre Léon-Bérard, Programme PROLOG (Projet Lyonnais d'OncoGériatrie) de l'INCa, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terret
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Droz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy