Trial Information

The Vulnerable Elders Survey Study of Older Cancer Patients

OBJECTIVES:

- Determine the correlation between the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) and the battery
of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment tools among breast and colon cancer patients, 65
years and older, in an outpatient setting.

- Assess and compare the abilities of the VES-13 and the battery of Comprehensive
Geriatric Assessment tools to predict chemotherapy adherence among these patients.

- Examine the validity of the VES-13 screening tool to identify increased risk of death
from all causes at one year after initial VES-13 screening in these patients.

- Examine the validity of the VES-13 screening tool to identify increased risk of
functional decline at one year after initial VES-13 screening in these patients.

OUTLINE: Patients complete the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) and a Comprehensive
Geriatric Assessment at baseline and 12 months later. Variables collected include
sociodemographics; cognitive, nutritional, psychosocial, and emotional status; tumor
characteristics; therapy; and mortality.

Patients are followed for 1 year for chemotherapy adherence and survival.