title: The development of anti-cancer programs in Canada for the geriatric population: an integrated nursing and medical approach.
abstract: Cancer control in Canada refers to the development of comprehensive programs utilising modern techniques, tools and approaches that actively prevent, cure or manage cancer. The scope of such programs is quite vast. They range from prevention, early detection and screening, comprehensive treatment both curative and palliative to comprehensive palliative care. Cancer is a disease associated with the aging population, and as the population ages the incidence of cancer would be expected to rise as well. This in itself poses a great challenge. In addition, the aging population demographics with the projected rise in the numbers of senior citizens, especially the over 80 group in the next decade, poses its own creative challenges to health planners. In Canada, health care is centrally administered, and controlled by the provincial governments of Canada, under the Canada Health Act. The challenge of developing comprehensive programs for the geriatric population requires changes in the care models and care pathways. The patient-centred models that have been adapted require a multidisciplinary approach to the clientele and their families that integrates cancer therapy and geriatric care and realities. This requires changes in the nursing and medical approach, as well as education in the subtleties of the two intersecting medical realities.
authors.affiliation: Santa Cabrini Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Irwin.Kuzmarov@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
authors.forename: Irwin W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Kuzmarov
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrante
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D005853:Geriatrics; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010348:Patient Care Team; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents