Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues in Elderly Cancer Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

The number of elderly patients with incurable head and neck cancer will increase. They are in need of geriatric palliative care, that takes into account oncology, palliative care and geriatric medicine. In this review of the most recent and relevant literature and includes the expert opinion of the authors, several physical problems (e.g. pain, fatigue, malnutrition, and loco-regional problems) encountered by the elderly head and neck cancer patients are addressed. In addition end-of life issues in this patient population are discussed.