Palliative care has a crucial role in the treatment of patients with cancer, and has been incorporated into general care for patients in most countries. This specially commissioned focus issue shows that palliative care can be considered throughout a patient's treatment trajectory, and is complementary to other therapies. Expert authors offer their assessment of a wide range of issues within the field of palliative care, including cancer cachexia, access to pain relief, specific issues for paediatric patients, and survivorship.
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EDITORIAL
The realities of the Liverpool care pathway
Rebecca Kirk
doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2013.3
Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology 10, 61-62 (2013)
REVIEWS
Palliative care reduces morbidity and mortality in cancer
Gabrielle B. Rocque & James F. Cleary
doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2012.211
Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology 10, 80-89 (2013)
Palliative care is a crucial part of the treatment spectrum for patients with cancer because these patients frequently undergo aggressive therapy, sometimes in discordance with their wishes. This Review article outlines the different elements of palliative care, including communication, quality of life, symptom control, patient satisfaction and resource utilization, and shows how it can benefit patients.
Understanding the mechanisms and treatment options in cancer cachexia
Kenneth Fearon, Jann Arends & Vickie Baracos
doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2012.209
Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology 10, 90-99 (2013)
Cancer cachexia is a metabolic syndrome that is defined by loss of muscle mass. This syndrome can cause a great deal of distress to patients with cancer and their families. This Review article outlines the symptoms, mechanisms and treatment options for cachexia with the aim of improving the quality of life of patients.
Palliative care for children with cancer
Elisha Waldman & Joanne Wolfe
doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2012.238
Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology 10, 100-107 (2013)
There is a general belief that paediatric palliative care should be provided only when no hope for the cure exists. This Review discusses how paediatric palliative care should be applied consistently and concurrently with other therapies regardless of the prognosis or disease stage, to ensure that the best possible care for children and their families is provided.
Access to opioid analgesics and pain relief for patients with cancer
Shalini Dalal & Eduardo Bruera
doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2012.237
Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology 10, 108-116 (2013)
Patients with cancer frequently experience pain, which is considered to be the most-common and feared symptom of the disease. In most patients, this pain can be successfully relieved with judicious use of opioids. Unfortunately, there are a number of barriers to patients receiving adequate pain relief, which are outlined in this Review. Guidelines and strategies to improve pain relief for patients with cancer are also outlined.
PERSPECTIVES
SCIENCE AND SOCIETYPerspectives of a lifelong cancer survivor—improving survivorship care
Ruth Rechis, Sarah R. Arvey & Ellen Burke Beckjord
doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2012.212
Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology 10, 117-120 (2013)
In this article, Ruth Rechis—a 20-year survivor of Hodgkin lymphoma—describes her personal account of surviving cancer and her experience as a researcher and advocate in the field of survivorship. She provides recommendations for engaging survivors as active participants in their post-treatment, long-term survivorship care and to ensure appropriate care is universally available as part of patient-centred comprehensive care.
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