Cancer and the Older Person: Improving Care, Outcomes and Experience

This course will enhance your understanding of cancer care for geriatric patients and help you to build confidence and knowledge to care for older people who have been diagnosed with or are undergoing treatment for cancer.

Explore the specific needs of older patients

1 in 2 people will develop cancer in their lifetime, and often this diagnosis comes later in life.

On this course, you’ll develop a toolkit of resources around caring for older patients throughout their diagnosis, treatment and recovery or end of life.

Learn how to talk about cancer with older patients and their families

Led by professionals at University of Melbourne, you’ll learn communication methods and modes of questioning that will help you respectfully encourage others to respect and heed expert health advice.

You might be worried you’ll say the wrong thing, but you’ll learn how to make an action plan for talking about cancer and how to help people take action in their lives to live with and help to treat cancer.

As well as helping you learn and share the facts around geriatric oncology, this course will also help you to support someone who is diagnosed with cancer later in life.

Learn with one of the world’s most highly regarded medical faculties

The University of Melbourne is ranked among the 20 best universities in the world for Healthcare and Medicine ^[1].

This course draws on the world leading knowledge of the University, alongside the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) and Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology.

Carers, doctors and nurses within this field, or family members of those suffering from a cancer diagnosis in old age.

Carers, doctors and nurses within this field, or family members of those suffering from a cancer diagnosis in old age.

• Describe factors that would differentiate a fit older person from a frail person as a result of cancer and its treatment
• Explain how age associated changes might impact on a person’s ability to engage in treatment decision making and self-care
• Explain the importance of effective communication and diversity of the population of an older person with cancer
• Explore strategies to effectively identify values and wishes that influence the care an older person may receive
• Explain the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in caring for an older person affected by cancer