Practical implementation of the comprehensive geriatric assessment to optimise care for older adults with cancer

Whilst cancer remains a very serious health problem at any stage, cancer combined with increasing age creates an even more challenging situation for health care providers. Age is the principal non-modifiable risk factor for all cancer types. There is a rising incidence of cancer among older adults worldwide. In Belgium, the highest incidence rate is situated in the 80–84 age group. In 2020, 60% of women and 70% of men in Belgium were aged 65 years or older when diagnosed, an increase of 6% for both sexes compared to 2010. Older adults with cancer can be a vulnerable group of individuals, as they present with unique characteristics that have naturally developed as a consequence of aging, such as altered physiology, functional impairment, and comorbidities.