Palliative Care News and Research

RSS

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

Cancer experts to discuss novel treatment strategies at ESMO Asia 2016 Congress

The ESMO Asia 2016 Congress announces its press programme today. The meeting brings together cancer experts in Singapore, from 16 to 19 December 2016.

23 Nov 2016

IQWiG finds colorectal cancer drug combination has added benefit only for some patients

The fixed combination of trifluridine/tipiracil has been approved since April 2016 for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

23 Nov 2016

Palliative care improves patients' survival and quality of life, study shows

People living with serious illness who receive palliative care have better quality of life and fewer symptoms than those who don't receive palliative care, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

22 Nov 2016

Palliative care could reduce hospitalizations, make life easier for older adults with serious illnesses

Palliative care is treatment--such as medication, nutritional support, or massage--that helps you feel better when you have a serious illness.

18 Nov 2016

GPs must be encouraged to play active role in palliative care

Hospitals typically provide excellent end-of-life care for their patients. But when GPs assume responsibility for terminal patients, things don't always go so well.

16 Nov 2016

D.C. Council passes ‘Death with Dignity Act’ by a veto-proof 11-2 margin

Compassion & Choices reports the District of Columbia is poised to become the seventh jurisdiction in the U.S. where medical aid in dying is authorized for terminally ill residents after the D.C. Council passed the D.C. Death with Dignity Act by a veto-proof 11-2 margin.

16 Nov 2016

Emotional and social quality of life can improve in last three months of life, research shows

An analysis of patients' physical, functional, emotional and social quality of life trajectories over the last 18 months of life as they live with serious illness shows that late life isn't all bad.

8 Nov 2016

Terminally ill cancer patients more likely to have poor outcomes after surgery

Patients with disseminated advanced cancer who undergo surgery are far more likely to endure long hospital stays and readmissions, referrals to extended care facilities and death, UC Davis researchers have found.

25 Oct 2016

Home-based palliative care program delivers quality treatment at lower cost, study shows

A home-based palliative care (HBPC) program for individuals with advanced illnesses was associated with a $12,000 reduction in the mean total cost of care per person, fewer hospital admissions and emergency room visits, and greater use of hospice during the final three months of life, as reported in a study published in Journal of Palliative Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

18 Oct 2016

How could emerging technologies impact cancer care?

The major innovations in cancer diagnosis, therapy/palliative care and surgical intervention are too numerous to list here. But enormous strides have taken place in stem cell therapy, monoclonal antibody therapy and genetic screening.

17 Oct 2016

Survey finds seven out of ten cancer patients receive palliative care consultation at ESMO Designated Centres

Seven out of ten patients with advanced cancer receive a palliative care consultation at ESMO Designated Centres of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care, according to survey results reported today at the ESMO 2016 Congress in Copenhagen.

8 Oct 2016

First comprehensive center opened in Tri-State area to mark new era in care of DMD patients

Nearly 1,000 boys in the New York Tri-State area have been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and, until now, had to travel out of the state for comprehensive care.

7 Oct 2016

Study finds incomplete and ambiguous POLST forms in emergency care for elderly patients

In recent years, Physicians' Orders for Life Sustaining Treatments (POLST) forms have been seen as an important way to honor the end-of-life wishes of frail elderly or terminally ill patients who cannot speak for themselves.

30 Sep 2016

Higher proportion of CKD patients receive renal replacement therapy in the U.S. than other countries

A new study indicates that a much higher proportion of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD)—even those ≥85 years of age—receive renal replacement therapy (RRT) such as maintenance dialysis or kidney transplantation in the United States than in other developed countries.

23 Sep 2016

Podcasts have potential to facilitate global communication about palliative care

A new study conducted by the Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool shows the positive impact and reach podcasts can have on palliative care globally.

21 Sep 2016

Karger publishes new clinical guide on management of chronic itch

Although it is such a common symptom in dermatology, internal medicine, psychosomatics, neurology, and even oncology, itching was under-researched up until 15 years ago. Since then, the clinical aspects of acute and chronic itch have been examined extensively. A new clinical guide on how to manage itch has just been published by Karger.

19 Sep 2016

Language barriers can complicate treatment for children with special health care needs

Language barriers can have dangerous consequences for children with special health care needs, according to a paper by authors including pediatric specialists at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

16 Sep 2016

Study finds late onset and short duration of pain relief treatment in many terminal cancer patients

Many terminal cancer patients are not getting adequate pain relief early enough, according to a University of Leeds study.

15 Sep 2016

Troubling gaps exist between oncologists and patients in having high-quality discussions, study shows

Specifically training oncologists and their patients to have high-quality discussions improves communication, but troubling gaps still exist between the two groups, according to a new study in JAMA Oncology.

9 Sep 2016

Delirium in advanced cancer patients: an interview with Dr Knox Todd

Delirium is a terribly distressing syndrome of acute confusion. We often see it in the emergency department in older patients and in those with multiple medical problems. They may be acting strangely at home and concerned loved ones bring them to the emergency department.

7 Sep 2016