Mary Grace Pagaduan, MPH, Hildy Dillon, MPH, and Kimberly Frederick, LCSW. Information Resource Center, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, 914-821-8868, pagaduanm@lls.org

Recent data from NCI Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER), states that about 60% of all newly diagnosed malignancies (and nearly 70% of hematological malignancies) and 70% of cancer deaths occur in persons 65 years and older. The prevalence of older persons diagnosed with cancer is expected to increase because of the overall aging of the U.S. population in addition to the unique growth of the 65 years and older group in the following decades. This paper explores a model for assisting older patients overcome barriers to care, specifically patients with hematological malignancies. Older patients are often “dismissed” from aggressive treatment protocols because of their chronological age. They face difficulty in finding life-saving clinical trials to enroll in. Older people oftentimes lack effective self-advocacy skills that might lead to better treatment outcomes and improved quality of life. Depression, fear, financial/insurance issues, limited social support, and inadequate knowledge of prognosis and treatment options are issues that effect treatment outcomes for this population. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Information Resource Center (IRC) has developed a support and assistance model to address the growing public health need in this population group. Master-level trained Information Specialists’ assist by providing guidance on how to access information on blood cancers and treatment options and clinical trials as well as techniques and tools to help patients and their families advocate with their specialist to make appropriate health care decisions on their care and quality of life.

Learning Objectives:

• List five criteria to assess medical and/or psychosocial barriers of access to care for older patients with blood related cancers related to quality of care issues.
• Identify barriers that patients experience to necessary treatments.
• Discuss why older patients should enroll in clinical trials.
• Describe the service the Information Resource Center, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society provides to bridge the gaps that patients experience with a cancer diagnosis.

Keywords: Cancer, Aging

Related Web page: www.lls.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment