Palliative Care News

An expert panel recommended two new anti-nausea medications and offered updated recommendations to improve chemotherapy- and radiation-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer.

Awareness of prognosis appeared associated with worse mood and quality of life among patients newly diagnosed with incurable cancer, study data showed.

This year’s ASCO Annual Meeting, held June 2-6 in Chicago, featured the theme “Making a Difference in Cancer Care With You.”

In 2016, ASCO published a provisional clinical opinion addressing the integration of palliative care in oncologic clinical practice. The statement indicates that palliative care may begin at the time of diagnosis of metastatic or advanced disease.

Despite current clinical practice guidelines recommending that clinicians use life expectancy to inform cancer screening, many older adults do not consider life expectancy to be an important factor in screening and prefer not to discuss it, according to findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

CHICAGO — Patients with metastatic spinal canal compression who received a single radiation dose achieved ambulatory status and OS comparable to those who received a multifraction dose administered over 1 week, according to results of a prospective randomized phase 3 noninferiority trial presented at ASCO Annual Meeting.

Standardized use of triggers for palliative care consultations for patients with advanced cancer admitted to an inpatient oncology service considerably reduced their downstream health care utilization, according to study results published in Journal of Oncology Practice.

Hematologic oncologists appeared to value hospice but may be concerned about the adequacy of services like transfusion for patients with blood cancers, thus limiting referrals, according to study results published in Cancer.

Patients hospitalized with advanced-stage cancers who received early palliative care showed decreased use of health care and increased use of support services, according to results of a prospective cohort study.

Patients with cancer who are educated about the benefits of palliative care are more likely to consider incorporating it into their treatment, according to results of a study by the American Psychological Association.