Deep Dive : WHY You Need a Geriatrician If You are Diagnosed with Cancer in Later Life

Some older adults feel that they only need to see a geriatrician if they are "too old", "too weak" , " about to lose it ", or "already lost it". This is an incorrect perception. Many times, the role of a geriatrician or geriatric care provider is to assess your health as a whole person, to explore your goals and wishes, and assess how the proposed cancer treatment may or may not fit into your wishes. Moreover, the assessment also sheds light on what challenges you may be facing, so a proactive plan, rather than a reactive plan, is advised.