Geriatric Oncology on Track: transmural and digital ways of keeping senior cancer patients on systemic treatment

Background:

Systemic therapy (cytostatic and/or targeted treatment) can be beneficial tot cancer patients, regardless of age, however, older patients are at risk for treament-related toxicity. Treatment related side-effect and unplanned hospital admissions (UHA) have a major impact on QoL, threatening independence. Treatment side-effects often lead to dose reductions, and in older patients even low grade toxicities (grade I/II) lead frequently to treatment modifications.



Objective

The aim of this study is to maintain QoL an improve cancer related outcome by preventing therapy-related toxicity (and ensuing unplanned hospital admission and/or discontinuation of chemotherapy) in cancer patients treated with systemic therapy bij the following procedures:

1. Integration of care/transmural collaboration.

2. Integrating "Hereismydata"in daily care to monitor treatment-related toxicity.

3. Education of home care providers to provide them tools to adequately intervene/ counsel oncology patients by developing a teaching module.

4.Evaluation of the use of Easycare-Tos in cancer patients.

5. Exploring patients preferences on care by hospital nurse, POH, district nurse an use of the internet.



Study population:

Older patients (aged 70 years or older) scheduled for systemic cancer treatment

The aim of this project is to maintain quality of life and improve cancer related outcome by preventing therapy-related toxicity (and ensuing unplanned hospital admission and/or discontinuation of chemotherapy) in cancer patients treated with systemic therapy

-Before treatment (30-45 minutes)

-After 2 cycles and 3 months and after treatment finished (15 minutes at a time)

-During treatment there will be frequently contacts with the oncology nurse

Intensive monitoring by screening tests; geriatric assesment / QoL / outcome measures