Reconsider surgery for senior citizens with cancer, says study

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The Covid-19 pandemic has led to modifications in the treatment for older patients with head and neck cancer, say doctors. A study published in a medical journal states that surgery should be reconsidered for older patients as it may result in higher risk of exposure to Covid-19 and that the treatment needs to be individualised.

The study was published in the International Society of Geriatric Oncology. "The number of cancer patients aged 65 years and older will increase in the next several decades. Head and neck cancer in older patients is a major health burden," said Dr Mukul Roy, author and consultant, radiation oncology at Jaslok Hospital. She said while this cancer is treated by combined modalities including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, there is a need to rationalise treatment in this age group because of high treatment-related morbidity.

"More than 90 per cent of HNC survivors who were treated with chemoradiation, experienced one or more nutrition-related syndromes. Therefore, post-treatment surveillance is important to reduce the risk of malnutrition and weight loss," Dr Roy said. Dr Anil Heroor, Director-Advanced Onco Surgery Unit, Fortis Hospitals, said they have begun conducting screenings of patients before admitting them for surgery . Dr Heroor added that as the protocols have evolved, the mortality post-surgery has fallen significantly. "Now, we take proper precautions. For instance, if a patient has been infected with Covid-19, the surgery is delayed by a minimum of four to six weeks, if possible. The earliest it can be done is within three to four weeks," he explained.