Palliative Care News

Leaders of ASH, ASCO and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network submitted a letter to the CDC recently seeking clarification of the agency’s clinical guidelines on opioid use for pain management.

A high proportion of patients with cancer are among a growing number of Americans who used marijuana over the past several years, likely reflecting greater availability of cannabis as a result of widening legalization, according to study results published in Cancer.

Three large populations of older cancer survivors demonstrated varying degrees of chronic opioid use, with colorectal and lung cancer survivors showing higher rates of chronic use 1 year after diagnosis than matched controls without cancer, according to a study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology.

ORLANDO — The use of artificial intelligence in community oncology practices has the potential to grow rapidly and provide more assistance to oncologists and hematologists in the coming years, according to presenters at Community Oncology Alliance Annual Conference.

Specialist palliative care at home during the last 3 months of life appeared associated with greater pain relief among patients with life-limiting conditions, especially progressive cancer, according to study results published in BMC Medicine.

Opioid-related hospitalizations among patients with cancer in the United States are rare and increasing at a low rate despite the opioid epidemic, according to a research letter published in JAMA Oncology.

Study findings showed that many patients with advanced cancer who are transitioning to comfort measures are inappropriately treated for UTIs, often with broad-spectrum antimicrobials.

The FDA has issued a warning letter to Nutra Pharma Corp., ordering the company to cease what it describes as illegal marketing of unapproved homeopathic products that claim to treat opioid addiction as well as chronic pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, cancer, diabetes and other serious conditions.

The Right to Try Act has raised concerns about late referrals to palliative care, particularly for children with cancer, according to a commentary published in JAMA Oncology.

Early palliative care reduced costs among patients with advanced cancer, according to retrospective study results.