Elsevier

European Journal of Cancer

Volume 35, Issue 13, December 1999, Pages 1771-1772
European Journal of Cancer

Point of View
A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is necessary for the study and the management of cancer in the elderly

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The comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA)

Several aspects of geriatric care should be assessed. Functional assessment in terms of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) is important for at least four reasons: the short-term (2 year) mortality increases with the degree of dependence [1]. Functional dependency may be amenable to rehabilitation, dependence in ADLs is a criteria of frailty 2, 6, and dependence in IADLs may suggest decreased tolerance to chemotherapy [7].

The prevalence of

Perspectives

The CGA represents the first important frame of reference for the study and the management of older persons with cancer. Clearly, the CGA has limitations. From a practical standpoint, the CGA is time-consuming and is broad-based. As a shortened version of the CGA, the minimum data set (MDS) is being accepted in general geriatrics, one may ask whether similar instruments may apply to geriatric oncology. Extermann and colleagues tried to establish whether a single index may reflect functional

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