Specialist Palliative Care for Patients with Cancer: More Than End-of-Life Care
Craig Gouldthorpe, Jenny Power, Amy Taylor, Andrew Davies
Abstract
Palliative care has traditionally focused on end-of-life care for patients with advanced cancer. This has since expanded to include symptom management and quality-of-life improvement from the moment of cancer diagnosis. Specialist palliative care teams work across community and inpatient settings and focus on dealing with complex problems whilst supporting healthcare colleagues in providing generalist palliative care. This article will outline the principles of palliative care, models of palliative care delivery, the distinctions between palliative care and supportive care, and the role of specialist palliative care in cancer survivorship.
Topics & Concepts
Palliative careMedicineEnd-of-life careNursingQuality of life (healthcare)CancerCurative careHealth careFamily medicineAmbulatory careEconomic growthEconomicsInternal medicinePalliative Care and End-of-Life IssuesChildhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of LifeCancer survivorship and care