ASCO Guidelines Update Highlights Palliative Care’s Role in Cancer Care

ASCO Guidelines Update Highlights Palliative Care’s Role in Cancer Care Posted By:
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Recently, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) unveiled its updated guidelines, particularly focusing on the integration of palliative care and building upon its 2016 recommendations. Among these updates, 2 stand out as pivotal areas where advanced practice providers (APPs) play a crucial role.

ASCO now recommends that oncologists and hematologists “should refer patients with advanced solid tumors and hematologic malignancies to specialized interdisciplinary palliative care teams that provide outpatient and inpatient care beginning early in the course of the disease, alongside active treatment of their cancer." This underscores the importance of APPs as integral members of specialized palliative care teams. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2021, only 1 in 10 individuals in need of palliative care actually received it. And by 2060, the demand for such care is  expected to double. With an impending shortage of physicians, APPs can significantly address this gap. Although the ASCO guidelines emphasize referral to specialized palliative care, APPs can leverage primary palliative care skills to support patients with cancer across various specialties, including oncology and primary care. Engaging patients in discussion about healthcare proxies or encouraging dialogue with their loved ones regarding their care goals and values are vital aspects of palliative care.

Furthermore, the updated ASCO guidelines extend the recommendation—oncologists and hematologists “caring for patients with solid tumors on phase I clinical trials may also refer them to specialist palliative care." This emphasizes the importance of meeting patients where they are in their journey, offering support and understanding amid uncertainty.

Perhaps the most poignant sentiment from the updated ASCO guidelines is that "in the storm of fear and fallibility, palliative care can offer a calm refuge of understanding and support for the patient and their caregivers." It is essential for healthcare professionals to remember this when caring for patients with cancer, acknowledging that life extends beyond their treatment and medical appointments and that their recommendations profoundly impact patients' overall well-being.


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Filed under: Oncology/Hematology

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