Improving Quality of Life in Frail, Older Patients with Hematological Cancer through Geriatric Assessment and Treatment

Hematological cancer is a common term for cancers that occur in the blood and in the blood-forming organs, such as leukemia and lymphoma. These diseases can often be treated with good effect; however, there is a big difference in how the individual patient tolerates the treatment.

Vulnerable elderly people with several competing diseases, high drug consumption, low appetite and low muscle mass do not tolerate the most effective treatments very well. If a patient is started on a treatment that is too harsh, it can result in extra hospitalizations, the need for help to cope with daily chores, loss of independence and reduced quality of life.

The purpose of the project is to investigate the effect of comprehensive geriatric assessment of vulnerable patients, prior to starting treatment for haematological cancer, and to investigate whether it is possible to make this assessment without treatment delays.

The grant is part of the VELUX FOUNDATION's investment in cancer research in vulnerable elderly people.