# Surgery in Older Cancer Patients

## TL;DR

This review discusses how surgery for older cancer patients is changing to focus on less invasive options and personalized care to improve recovery and quality of life.

## Contribution

The paper introduces the integration of geriatric principles and minimally invasive treatments to improve outcomes in older cancer patients.

## Key findings

- Minimally invasive treatments offer similar cancer outcomes with less harm and better recovery.
- Geriatric assessments help identify patient vulnerabilities and improve treatment planning.
- Prehabilitation and multidisciplinary care enhance recovery and align with patient values.

## Abstract

This narrative review explores the evolving role of surgery in older adults with cancer, highlighting non-operative and minimally invasive alternatives, and the integration of geriatric principles to improve selection of treatment and postoperative outcomes.

Minimally invasive and non-operative treatments can provide comparable oncological outcomes to traditional surgery with lower morbidity and better functional recovery. Frailty screening tools aid in predicting postoperative outcomes, and geriatric assessment can identify vulnerabilities and assist treatment planning, prehabilitation and rehabilitation. Prehabilitation, early rehabilitation, and multidisciplinary collaboration enhance recovery and align care with patient values and outcomes that matter most.

Surgical care in older cancer patients is shifting toward a model focused on preserving quality of life and personalised decision-making. Incorporating geriatric assessments and less invasive approaches can improve outcomes and reduce treatment burden. Further research is needed to integrate these strategies into standard practice.