Finding an Oncologist
Treating a senior with cancer is decidedly different than treating a younger person with the disease. Often, elderly cancer patients are dealing with so many other issues in addition to their cancer, usually disorders like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other factors that make treatment especially difficult. That's why it is essential to locate an oncologist that is well-versed in the treatment of seniors with cancer.
Geriatric oncologists are specially trained in the particulars of cancer, like mesothelioma, and how the disease affects older adults. They are an essential part of the oncology medical population, primarily because at least one in three individuals over the age of 60 will be diagnosed with cancer at some time during their later years.
As advocates for seniors who suffer from cancer, geriatric oncologists consistently work on finding optimal cancer treatments for the senior population and regularly study the effects of these different treatments on their elderly patients. Slowly, those interested in geriatric oncology have pushed for clinical trials focused on the treatment of elderly cancer victims and have rallied for federal grants to support more research on the topic of geriatric cancers. Furthermore, they've encourage young doctors to consider the field of geriatric oncology so that the interest will continue as more baby boomers reach their advanced years.
How do you find an oncologist that specializes in senior care? The best place to start is at your local hospital. If you're in a large city with a major cancer center or a few university-affiliated hospitals, you're more than likely to find one. Make a call to the hospital's "find a doctor" service or log onto their website to search for a geriatric specialist.
If you're not located near a major hospital, you may be less likely to find a geriatric oncologist. If that's the case, you'll need to think about traveling to the closest comprehensive cancer center in order to receive the best care available, if possible. Often, the improved quality of care you'll receive from a specialized oncologist will be well worth the time and money spent to reach him/her.
If you or a family member has access to the internet, you can also check out online resources for finding an oncologist that specializes in treating older adults. These include:
- www.cancer.net
- American Medical Association Doctor Finder https://extapps.ama-assn.org/doctorfinder/recaptcha.jsp
- DocShop www.docshop.com/oncologists/states.html
- Doctor Finders https://doctorfinders.com/oncologist.php
- www.doctor.com
Source
National Institute of Health
http://www.nih.gov
