As a geriatric oncologist, I devote my time to trying to improve care delivery and outcomes for older adults with cancer. At the Wilmot Cancer Institute, we have one of the country's few geriatric oncology clinics. Our team -- Specialized Oncology Care and Research in Elders, or SOCARE -- is recognized nationally and internationally as providing the most comprehensive, evidence-based model of care for patients aged 70 and over with cancer.
My philosophy is to focus on the patient as a whole, not just the cancer. For this reason, we employ a multidisciplinary approach to the care of every patient. This includes an assessment of overall health status and input from nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, nutrition and social work, whenever appropriate.
Over 60% of patients with cancer are aged 65 and over, and with the aging of the population, this number will increase. Despite the high prevalence of cancer in older adults, patients who are older are underrepresented in clinical trials. As a result, there is a gap in knowledge in the safest and most effective cancer treatments. Through evidence-based clinical practice and research, we hope to close this gap.