When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, the primary focus often shifts to treating the disease itself, potentially overlooking other chronic medical conditions and the diverse needs of older adults. Our new referral-only outpatient Geriatric Oncology Clinic at the WVU Cancer Institute Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center is dedicated to addressing these needs, setting new standards in managing age-related factors to enhance patients’ quality of life.
West Virginia, home to the nation’s third-oldest population and with one of the highest cancer incidence rates in individuals over 65, greatly benefits from this essential resource. The Geriatric Oncology Clinic is committed to providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art care for older cancer patients across West Virginia and beyond.
Led by experienced providers R. Osvaldo Navia, MD, division chief of Geriatrics, Palliative Medicine, and Hospice, and Manar Shalak, MD, our clinic aims to improve care and quality of life for older adults with cancer. The geriatric team will use specific tools to assess overall fitness for treatment, manage chronic conditions, and achieve care goals.
Assessments will include evaluations of:
- Fall risk
- Sensory loss
- Fatigue, frailty
- Memory impairment
- Social support
- Nutrition
- Mental health