Lodovico Balducci, MD, and Martine Extermann, MD, are two of four co-editors of a new text book, Comprehensive Geriatric Oncology. Balducci is Leader of the Senior Adult Oncology Program at the H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute and Extermann is a program member.

Comprehensive Geriatric Oncology reflects the emphasis Moffitt's Senior Adult Oncology Program puts on researching cancer in the older patient; in fact, Balducci is considered a founder of the field of geriatric oncology. The book, published by Taylor & Francis, covers cancer prevention in the aged as well as tumor management and supportive care.

Authors from many cancer centers contributed chapters of the book, including researchers in Germany, Italy and Russia as well as scientists from the UCLA Medical School, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Cancer in the older adult can be complicated, because it may be present in combination with other chronic conditions such as dementia and frailty. Balducci and Extermann have conducted studies showing that, despite stereotypes that result in chemotherapy being withheld from the elderly, they do in fact most of the time tolerate the treatment well.

The other co-editors are Gary H. Lyman, M.D., MPH, Director of the Cancer Center of Albany Medical College, and William B. Ershler, M.D., Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Aging and Geriatric Medicine at the National Institute on Aging.

The book provides essential information for professionals from all disciplines who treat the adult cancer patient with the goal of contributing to cancer prevention in that population.

In 2001, the National Cancer Institute awarded Moffitt the status of a Comprehensive Cancer Center in recognition of its excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country's leading cancer centers, and is listed in the U.S. News & World Report as one of the top cancer hospitals in America. Moffitt's sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.



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