[Early integration of palliative care in oncology]

Abstract

Palliative care has evolved in the last half a century from a philosophy of care aiming at care of dying patients to specific/standalone medical specialization caring of patients with incurable diseases. Patients with advanced cancer suffer from physical and psychical symptoms, existential and social distress and have limited prognosis. Today we have strong clinical data about feasibility and usefulness of early integration of palliative care in oncology in terms of better quality of life, symptom control and survival. The question is not if, but when, whom and how is the best way to integrate palliative care into modern oncology. This article reviews data from clinical trials, presents models of cooperation for early integration and raises questions remained to be solved in a future.

Keywords: early palliative care; oncology; palliative care; symptoms quality of life..