ZERO – ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER NEWS
WINTER 2022/2023
THE BENEFITS OF PALLIATIVE CARE for Advanced Prostate Cancer Patients
Advanced care planning Coordination and continuity of care Appropriate community palliative care and
Living with advanced stage prostate cancer, even with excellent care from oncology teams, can be challenging and patients often experience unmet physical, social, and spiritual needs. Palliative care is the service utilized to help meet those needs. The Center for Advancement of Palliative Care defines it as “ . . . specialized
hospice referrals Caregiver support End of life care 3
Kimberly A. Curseen M.D., Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University Hospital
Palliative care is patient-centered and may be delivered in the following settings: Outpatient clinics often embedded with oncology or freestanding In-home palliative care for patients who have difficulty getting to clinic appointments This flexibility allows for many patients to access palliative care services regardless of their physical location in the healthcare system. Palliative care is often confused with hospice care. Although hospice is the medical service insurance benefit providing palliative care to patients at the end of life, not all palliative care is hospice care. Palliative care focuses on managing symptoms of serious illness concurrently with ongoing treatment, while hospice care focuses on supporting patients in living fully and comfortably, while providing support to their caregivers/families as the patient faces the end of life. Long-term care facilities Hospital consultations To learn more about palliative care and to locate local services, an excellent resource is getpalliativecare. org. If you believe that palliative care could enhance your quality of life, feel empowered to ask your oncology team for a referral. _________________________________________________
medical care for people with serious illness. ” It is administered by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses, and other specialists working collaboratively with other doctors to support a patient’s treatment plan. “At any age and at any stage in a serious illness, palliative care can be appropriately provided along with curative treatment.” 1 Palliative care recognizes individuals as multidimensional beings while continuing to address the physical, psychological, and spiritual concerns of patients with advanced cancer for the purpose of helping them reach their clinical goals. In an effort to improve the quality of life and clinical outcomes, palliative care services also assist patients, caregivers, and families with advance care planning, securing appropriate resources, and in making difficult decisions. There is a growing body of literature recognizing the importance of incorporating palliative care in the management of patients with advanced cancer. The early integration of palliative care for advanced cancer patients is ideal since it allows for anticipatory symptom management and mitigation of suffering, as well as improved communication concerning patient goals of care, treatment preferences, and prognosis. 2 The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has supported the integration of early palliative care in patients with advanced cancer and high symptom burden. 3 In 2016, ASCO, partnering with the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, published guidance on high-quality palliative care for patients with advanced cancer. These guidelines are as follows: Pain and symptom management Psycho-social assessment and management Spiritual and cultural assessment and management Communication and shared decision making
1 Connor SR. Hospice and palliative care: The essential guide: Taylor & Francis; 2017.
2 Dalal S, Bruera E. End-of-Life Care Matters: Palliative Cancer Care Results in Better Care and Lower Costs. The oncologist. 2017;22(4):361-8.
3 Ferrell BR, Temel JS, Temin S, et al. Integration of palliative care into standard oncology care: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline update. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2016;35(1):96-112.
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