Palliative Care News

Patients with terminal cancer who underwent chemotherapy in the final months of life were more likely to die in an ICU, according to results of a prospective, multisite study.

Individuals with advanced-stage cancers who received early palliative care demonstrated improved quality of life and patient satisfaction compared with those who received standard oncology care, according to results of a cluster-randomized, controlled trial.

Adult patients with advanced cancer who were referred early to outpatient palliative care experienced better end-of-life care compared with patients who received inpatient palliative care, according to study results.

Adult patients with advanced cancer who were referred early to outpatient palliative care experienced better end-of-life care compared with patients who received inpatient palliative care, according to study results.

Radiation in a single fraction of 8 Gy appeared noninferior and less toxic than 20 Gy in multiple fractions to palliate pain in patients with bone metastases, according to results of a multicenter study.

Calcium and magnesium did not protect against oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity in patients with colon cancer who received adjuvant therapy with FOLFOX, according to results of a phase 3 study.

At the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in October, researchers presented preliminary results showing that patients and their parents are open to discussions about palliative care at the time of cancer diagnosis.

As a palliative care physician and an internist, I watch with awe how my oncology colleagues manage intense practices while caring for a certain percentage of patients they know will die despite the medical team’s best efforts.

I am always looking for tools to help patients focus on what is really important to them.

Several randomized studies conducted in the past few years reveal the clinical benefits of palliative care for patients with cancer, particularly if it is utilized at or soon after diagnosis.