Geriatric Hematologic Malignancy Survivorship: Defining Needs and Improving Survivor

Authors

Amber Essenmacher, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Hematology-Oncology

Advisor

Dr. Laura Witte

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to examine the association between geriatric age and long-term outcomes in hematologic malignancy survivorship and to identify solutions to improving age-related morbidity and mortality in this patient population.

Method: A PubMed literature search was conducted with the search terms: leukemia, lymphoma, survivorship, elderly, and geriatric hematologic malignancy. Just over 100 articles were found in the initial search, and 35 sources were incorporated into the review paper based on relevance to the topic with preference given to articles that were less than 5 years old.

Results: There is a lack of evidence-based research to support specific interventions that may improve geriatric hematologic malignancy survivorship.

Conclusion: Despite ever-improving treatment modalities for patients with hematologic malignancies, there is still evidence for worse outcomes in geriatric survivors. Additional research is needed to identify best practice survivorship interventions that can reduce both disease-related and treatment-related mortality.

Implications for Cancer Survivors: Geriatric hematologic malignancy survivors have unique needs based on their age, diagnosis, comorbidities, and social factors. Identifying tools, such as individualized survivorship care plans or geriatric assessments, that adjust for those unique factors and then assessing the tools prospectively in clinical trials can potentially demonstrate impact on geriatric morbidity, mortality, and other factors of hematologic malignancy survivorship.

Keywords: Survivorship, Geriatric, Hematologic Malignancy

Recommended Citation

Essenmacher A. Geriatric Hematologic Malignancy Survivorship: Defining Needs and Improving Survivor. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2022; 4(3).