First Asian Congress on Cancer in Older Patients Kuching, Malaysia 22–23rd January 2011

SIOG 2011-First Asian Congress on Cancer in Older Patients organized by Sarawak Hospice Society, was held in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia from 22 to 23rd January 2011 under the chair of Riccardo A. Audisio and Matti A. Aapro. The meeting was accredited by ACOE and ESMO and endorsed by UICC and ESSO and first to be held in Asia.The congress was well attended with 500 participants from 16 countries. The participants included doctors, nurses, pharmacists and X-ray technologists. The topics included the global and South East Asian perspective on older patients, under treatment, clinical assessment tools, surgical treatment of breast, lung and esophageal cancers, supportive care for breast cancer, cultural barriers in Malaysia, newer radiotherapy techniques that can be used in older patients, targeted treatment of lung, colorectal cancers and hematology. Preliminary findings of using the Groningen Frailty Index in an Asian oncology patient population were presented. An interesting topic on the cultural barriers to cancer care in the elderly from the three ethnic groups in Sarawak was presented. The findings revealed the challenges faced by the public as well as the healthcare professionals. The topics discussed were relevant to the local needs of the participants so that they could apply the knowledge when they returned home.The Meeting Highlights collect the views of the panelists: to update on the cutting edge of present knowledge, in order to improve our understanding of the malignant disease affecting the senior patients and its implication in the Asian setting and to optimize the management.