Three years ago, ASCO updated its clinical practice guideline on the integration of palliative care into standard oncology care for patients with advanced cancer. The update was based on multiple randomized clinical trials showing better results with concurrent care than with usual oncology care alone. Some of the benefits include better quality of life, improved symptom management, reduced anxiety and depression, less caregiver distress, greater concordance of care based on patients’ wishes, and less aggressive care at the end of life.
According to the practice guideline, the essential components of palliative medicine are listed here:
- Building rapport with patients and family caregivers
- Managing patients’ symptoms, distress, and functional status (eg, pain, dyspnea, fatigue, sleep disturbance, mood, nausea, or constipation) to improve quality of life
- Educating patients about their illness and prognosis
- Clarifying treatment goals
- Assisting with medical decision-making
- Coordinating a multidisciplinary team of palliative care specialists, including an oncology medical provider, social worker, dietitian, psychologist/psychiatrist, and spiritual care practitioner, and providing referrals to other care providers as needed.
