ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — The American Cancer Society predicts this year will be the first year in US history that new cancer diagnoses will cross the two million mark. More than half will be people over the age of 65. Treatment can be tough for older men and women, and once discharged from the hospital, there is a lot of risk in their at-home care and not knowing what to do can land you back in the hospital with serious complications. A silver-haired avatar may help older patients learn the right way to recover at home. Recovery
Paperwork, information, medications …
It can all seem like too much!
Victoria Loerzel, PhD at UCF College of Nursing says, “When somebody is typically diagnosed with cancer, you know, it’s a very overwhelming experience.”
In her 20 years as an oncology nurse, Victoria Loerzel has seen patient after patient re-admitted to the hospital for not following directions when they return home.
“The big ones that people get readmitted for are pain, of course, symptoms like nausea and vomiting.” explains Professor Loerzel.
But Professor Loerzel is trying to change that – with a game.
In the game, patients follow a silver-haired avatar home after being discharged.
The choices they make in the game are the same choices they will make for themselves at home.
Professor Loerzel says, “Hopefully what they do once they get home is they remember that, oh, the more I did, the better the avatar felt, and I’m now gonna do some of the things that I did for the avatar in the game at home for myself.”
Compared to younger patients, those 65 and older are at a higher risk for severe side effects. Chemo, nausea and vomiting can lead to dehydration and toxicity.
Professor Loerzel explains, “We’re trying to save them time, we’re trying to save them money. We’re trying to save the hospital system money, and we’re also trying to get them to think differently about managing their care at home.”
The game takes just 15 minutes to play, but Professor Loerzel says it can save older cancer patients days and weeks lost to illness or being readmitted into the hospital to manage their symptoms. She received a two and a half million-dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health to fund a larger, multi-center study to follow 500 patients for 6 months after their treatment.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor, Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer.
Sources:
https://www.cancer.org/research/acs-research-news/facts-and-figures-2024.html
SILVER-HAIRED AVATAR COACH SENIORS THROUGH RECOVERY
REPORT #3179
BACKGROUND: Cancer risk increases with age. Research shows more than two-thirds of all newly diagnosed cancers affect adults aged 60 and older, with the average age at diagnosis being 66. People are continually exposed to environmental factors like UV light and chemical toxins, as well as lifestyle choices like smoking, being overweight, and eating an unhealthy diet. These risks trigger DNA mutation that can eventually lead to cancer. As people age, the immune system naturally weakens and loses some of its cancer-fighting ability. Along with co-existing health issues, it makes it even more difficult to treat cancers as we age.
CARE FOR OLDER CANCER PATIENTS: Older patients diagnosed with cancer often have additional health conditions to monitor and could be receiving care from multiple doctors, which makes aftercare a vital part of recovery. One important step for cancer care is medication management. A pharmacist will lay out a plan for the patient that won’t interfere with the goals of therapy, loss of independence, or decreased quality of life. Another step for cancer care is counseling and support. Social workers can provide older patients who live alone or have limited family resources support in their aftercare. Rehabilitation is another way to care for older adults recovering from cancer treatments. Occupational therapists assist with daily living tasks like dressing, bathing, handling finances, and managing medications. Physical therapists will help the patient achieve their highest level of functioning independently. Nutrition plays a huge role in the care of an older cancer patient. Older adults can be at risk for vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can lead to medical nutrition therapy. A nutrition counselor can assist the patient in getting on the most beneficial diet for their recovery.
(Source: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/help-older-patients)
NEW OUTLOOK FOR GERIATRIC CANCER CARE: A new program at Penn Medicine Princeton Cancer Center aims to develop holistic, patient-centered care for older adults with cancer. The focus is to expand research opportunities, enhance professionals’ expertise in geriatrics, and increase outreach to seniors. “We serve a dynamic population that is aging and experiences higher cancer rates than the national average, and all of them deserve the very best, most personalized care we can offer,” said James Demetriades, CEO of Penn Medicine Princeton Health. Ramy Sedhom, MD, a clinical assistant professor of Hematology-Oncology in the Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, added, “Our program is rooted in the proposition of caring for the whole patient, not their disease. There is a core tenant in geriatrics where you don’t know what you don’t know. Older adults are a distinct group with unique personal and caregiver needs.” Older adults have not been well-represented in clinical trials. This becomes challenging for oncologists attempting to match the latest treatments for the elderly and results in health equity gaps in geriatric oncology care. This program is working on changing that.
* For More Information, Contact:
Margot Winick
UCF Communications and Marketing
407-823-1492
Free weekly e-mail on Medical Breakthroughs from Ivanhoe. To sign up: http://www.ivanhoe.com/ftk
