Caregiver
involvement can have major impact on disease outcomes for
colon cancer patients 65 and older
-- Actor Miguel Ferrer and the
Alliance for Aging Research Join Forces to Educate about the
Important Role of Caregivers --
Washington, DC,
November 14, 2005
– New research shows that colon cancer patients who are 65
and older may benefit from a caregivers involvement, and
that caregivers may ultimately have a major impact on the
patient’s disease management according to a survey of
oncologists commissioned by the Alliance for Aging Research.
Crossing Jordan star, Miguel Ferrer, who lost his father
José Ferrer to colon cancer, is partnering with the Alliance
for Aging Research to help educate colon cancer patients and
caregivers about the importance of active involvement in the
treatment of the disease.
“Six
out of ten colon cancer patients are 65 and older, and these
patients have an increased need for caregiver support,” said
Stuart Lichtman, MD, associate attending at Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. “Physicians
should encourage patients to enlist a caregiver and involve
them in the treatment decision-making process.”
The
survey of oncologists highlights the critical impact of
caregivers in ensuring optimal outcomes for colon cancer
patients 65 and older and is part of the “Caring for the
Aging” program to educate colon cancer patients and their
caregivers about the critical role of a caregiver in
managing the disease.
Patient Age and
Disease Management
According to the survey, 70 percent of oncologists feel a
patient’s age affects the recommendations they provide to
patients to manage the disease a great deal or somewhat.
However, oncologists feel that patients can handle
aggressive treatment. In fact, 65 percent of oncologists
strongly or somewhat disagree that colon cancer patients 65
and older are not capable of handling aggressive
chemotherapy.
The
patient and physician relationship is a two way street. More
than half (56 percent) of oncologists who say that their
colon cancer patients 65 and older have a more difficult
time than younger patients managing their disease agree that
these patients are generally less proactive towards their
disease and available options. In addition, two out of five
(41 percent) of these same oncologists strongly or somewhat
agree that these patients do not ask the most relevant
questions concerning their disease management. Oncologists
agree that colon cancer patients 65 and older experienced
better disease outcomes with a caregiver’s involvement due
to increased communications (77 percent). As a result, 81
percent of oncologists say that they depend on caregivers
somewhat or a great deal to be an intermediary between
themselves and their patients ages 65 and older.
“It
is clear that caregivers are key to ensuring that colon
cancer patients 65 and older receive the best care,” said
Daniel Perry, Executive Director, Alliance for Aging
Research. “As managing colon cancer can be a complicated and
confusing process especially for the aging population, a
caregiver, whether a spouse, child, friend or neighbor,
should be actively involved.”
Caregiver Support
and Involvement
Oncologists consider caregivers an ally and an important
contributor in the management of a colon cancer patient 65
and older. In fact, 90 percent of oncologists feel that the
caregiver has a major to moderate impact on the
decision-making process related to the disease management of
these patients. However, oncologists report that on average
only about three out of five (64 percent) colon cancer
patients 65 and older have the support of a caregiver.
Caregivers may have many responsibilities but oncologists
observed that the primary role of a caregiver includes
providing emotional support (94 percent), participating in
doctor’s visits and in decisions about disease management
options (89 percent), and transportation to and from
doctor’s appointments (90 percent). More than eight out of
ten (85 percent) oncologists have recommended to colon
cancer patients 65 and older that they can benefit from
having a caregiver involved.
“Although colon cancer took my father’s life, the everyday
involvement of my stepmother helped ease the process of
making decisions as he went down a difficult path,” said
Miguel Ferrer. “I encourage all caregivers and family
members to become actively involved and ask the right
questions to ensure the best possible outcomes for their
loved one.”
Tips for
Caregivers
According to oncologists, treatment options are among the
key topics that caregivers and colon cancer patients should
discuss with them to ensure the best outcomes for the
disease. For a full list of tips for caregivers and patients
and additional information about “Caring for the Aging”, log
on to www.agingresearch.org. The “Caring for the Aging”
program is sponsored by sanofi-aventis.
About Colon
Cancer
Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and
will claim the lives of more than 56,000 people in the
United States this year alone. The incidence of colon cancer
is more than 50 times higher in people aged 60-79 than in
those younger than 40, and more than 90 percent of cases
occur in individuals 50 and older.