Use of Palliative Performance and Symptom Distress Scales in Older Patients With Advanced Ovarian Cancer

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

- To evaluate the changes in performance status and symptom distress in older patients
with presumed or advanced ovarian cancer undergoing surgery and/or chemotherapy.

Secondary

- To explore the association between these changes with chemotherapy drug change, dose
reduction, or dose delay due to toxicity in these patients.

- To explore the association between these changes with the development of surgical
complications in these patients.

- To observe the response in the Geriatric Assessment (GA) and report the individual item
scores.

OUTLINE: Patients complete the Palliative Performance Scale and the McCorkle Symptom
Distress Scale questionnaires at baseline, at 10-20 days after surgery*, at 14-21 days after
courses 3 and 6 of chemotherapy ( if applicable), and at approximately 2-3 months at the
patient's first follow-up visit. The research team completes the Professional Geriatric
Assessments. Patients' medical records are also reviewed for any surgical complications,
chemotherapy toxicities, dose reductions or delays, or change in medications secondary to
chemotherapy toxicities.

NOTE: *Patients who complete the assessments and questionnaires at baseline but who are
found not to have ovarian cancer during surgery will remain eligible for assessment of
surgical complications.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Clinical findings highly suggestive of advanced ovarian epithelial cancer undergoing
surgery for definitive diagnosis and staging

- ≥ 65 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

- Prior diagnosis of ovarian cancer

- Inability to read and speak English

- Inability to comply with study requirements