Ageing: the real cancer risk and the call for geriatric oncology reform

Ageing is identified as the leading cancer risk, reflecting a global and Canadian shift toward older populations. The piece argues for routine geriatric assessments before cancer treatment and for more specialized geriatric oncology services, noting that Canada currently has few clinics and that such care can save costs. Barriers include funding, workforce shortages, inertia in oncology care models, and ageism. The authors—Kristen Haase and Shabbir Alibhai—call for targeted, nurse-led or geriatric approaches to expand access and improve quality of life for older adults with cancer (republished from The Conversation).