768 / 1096
S752
ESTRO 36
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion
In a patient reported outcome era, a joint approach at
cancer pain can improve self-report symptoms.
Particularly, the non-controlled pain seems to be avoided.
Larger series and QoL are required to confirm these
results.
Electronic Poster: Clinical track: Elderly
EP-1407 Are future radiation oncologists equipped with
the knowledge to manage elderly cancer patients?
L. Morris
1
, N. Thiruthaneeswaran
2
, M. Lehman
3
, G.
Hasselburg
3
, S. Turner
1
1
Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Radiation
Oncology, Westmead, Australia
2
Peter MacCallum - Bendigo Radiotherapy Centre,
Radiation Oncology, Bendigo, Australia
3
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of
Radiologists, Faculty of Radiation Oncology, Sydney,
Australia
Purpose or Objective
The management of elderly patients with cancer is a
significant global challenge as a result of an increasing
aging population. Education of future radiation oncologists
in geriatric oncology is fundamental to ensuring elderly
cancer patients receive appropriate care. This study aims
to assess radiation oncology (RO) trainee knowledge,
perception and clinical practice in geriatric oncology.
Material and Methods
A customised online survey was anonymously administered
to 118 RO trainees across Australasia. The survey assessed
three domains:
1.
Trainee demographics and prior training in geriatric
medicine
2.
Current clinical practice and attitudes regarding elderly
cancer patients and radiation therapy
3.
Opinions regarding educational opportunities around
geriatric oncoloogy
The survey was developed and reviewed by radiation
oncologists with expertise in education and training.
Results
A total of 61 (52%) trainees responded to the survey. Over
half the respondents had not undertaken a geriatric
medicine residency term prior to RO speciality training.
91.8% of respondents had not received teaching during RO
training specifically regarding geriatric oncology.
The use of geriatric assessment (GA) tools for determining
suitability for radiation therapy was uncommon, with
80.3% of respondents rarely or never using them. Over two
thirds of respondents reported not seeking or rarely
seeking multidisciplinary input from a geriatrician when
assessing
suitability
for
treatment.
Trainees had low confidence levels in managing complex
issues commonly observed in the elderly. Only 39.3% felt
they had the confidence to manage these issues with
31.2%
not
confident/not
at
all
confident.
Respondents ranked important factors for deciding
treatment options as functional status, assessment of co-
morbidity, physiological age and cognition. Geriatrician
referral scored the least. Of factors influencing dose
fractionation schedule, physiological age ranked the
highest, whilst performing GA ranked the lowest.
The majority of trainees (85.3%) agreed or strongly agreed
they would benefit from more training around RO in
elderly patients. 65.6% felt the addition of learning
objectives to RO curriculum around geriatric oncology
would be valuable.
Conclusion
RO trainees report inadequate training and experience in
geriatric oncology and geriatric medicine. RO trainees
rarely use and poorly understand the rationale for GA tools
and geriatrician input in clinical practice. Trainees
strongly support improved education in geriatric oncology.
EP-1408 Nutritional parameters in elderly patients with
lung cancer and radiation treatment
J. Monroy Anton
1
, L. Ribes Llopis
1
, E. Molina Luque
1
, M.
Soler tortosa
1
, m. Lopez muñoz
1
, a. Soler rodriguez
1
, a.
Navarro Bergada
1
, M. Estornell Gualde
1
1
Hospital universitario de la ribera, radiation oncology,
Alzira, Spain
Purpose or Objective
Treatment of lung cancer in elderly patients is increasing
in the last years due to the longevity of the population .
An important element to consider in these patients is
nutritional status, because it can have a major impact on
the
effects
of
treatment
and
compliance
Our main objective was to analyze parameters related to
feeding and nutrition of elderly in treatment for
pulmonary neoplasms
Material and Methods
We analyzed 22 patients ; men: 21; women: 1
Age: 70-91 years; mean: 76.9 median: 76.5
Nutritional parameters
analyzed :
-Body mass index (BMI)
-Weight loss
-Type of diet: complete solid /oral (standard); deficient
or non-solid ; other (parenteral, nasogastric)
-Feeding problems: mechanical, physiological, or any
other problems for feeding (due to patient status or
treatment
administration).
-Nutritional supplements: addition or substitution with
nutritional supplementary diets
These parameters were checked at three times:
- T0: before start treatment
- T1: fractions 12-15
- End of treatment
Results
T0
BMI
Mean: 27.95 kg/m2 median: 27.35 (20.15 – 37.6)
Weight loss
<5%:
18
(81%)
5-10%: 3 (13.5%)
>10%: 1 (4.5%)
Diet
Standard: 21 (95.5%)
Deficient: 1 (4.5%)
Feeding problems
NO problems: 21 (95.5%)
Disphagia gr 1 (RTOG): 1 (4.5%)
Nutritional
supplements
NO : 21 (95.5%)
YES: 1 (4.5%)
T1
BMI
mean: 27.7 kg/m2; median: 26.75 (20.15 – 37.03)