The number of older adults with cancer is increasing, and this group is forecasted to represent a larger portion of the field of oncology over the decades to come. Many unique challenges exist in the care of older adults with cancer, from age-related changes in physiology to the increased presence of comorbidities, polypharmacy, and geriatric syndromes. Unfortunately, there remains a significant knowledge gap in the optimal management of this growing population, as the majority of cancer research and clinical trials focus on younger, healthier patients, which consequently complicates the applicability of this work in the older adult population and potentially compromises safety. In this article, we further explore the challenges facing the field of geriatric oncology and discuss strategies to close the knowledge gap facing older adults with cancer.
Keywords: Geriatric oncology; aging; cancer; evidence-based medicine; frailty; polypharmacy.