Frailty in Cancer Care - UK Expert Consensus Framework
Date: 2026
Frailty in Cancer Care - UK Expert Consensus Framework
The purpose of this framework is to empower healthcare professionals to screen for and manage frailty in patients with cancer, particularly in settings where dedicated services are not widely available. It complements the 2023 Joint Collegiate Council for Oncology (JCCO) guidance below.
This document has been co-designed with the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG), Macmillan Cancer Support, and the National Forum for Onco-Geriatrics (NFOG), and developed with representation from the British Geriatrics Society (BGS) and The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR).
This material has been produced and fully funded by AstraZeneca for use within the specialties of clinical oncology, medical oncology and other specialties and healthcare professionals involved in the care of adult patients with cancer in the UK.
Implementing frailty assessment and management in oncology services
Date: 2023
Frailty is defined as “A medical syndrome with multiple causes and contributors that is characterised by diminished strength, endurance, and reduced physiologic function that increases an individual’s vulnerability….”
Frailty is common in patients with cancer. Patients with frailty are vulnerable to higher rates of treatment toxicity and surgical complications, and worse quality of life and survival outcomes. However, these can and should be improved with targeted assessment, support and management of frailty.
Each step in the cancer pathway is an opportunity for assessing and managing frailty. Guidance published by the Joint Collegiate Council for Oncology, in association with the British Geriatrics Society, the International Society of Geriatric Oncology and Macmillan Cancer Support, is intended to encourage and support the implementation of frailty assessment and management in oncology services in the UK. It provides practical advice and recommendations to help ensure this becomes a routine part of clinical care.
Frailty is everyone’s business and although aimed primarily at oncologists, this guidance is relevant to everyone involved in the care of adult patients with cancer across the wider multi-disciplinary team.
