A phase III study of transdermal granisetron versus oral ondansetron for women with gynecologic cancers receiving pelvic chemoradiation

Incorporation of Palliative Care in Gynecologic Oncology

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review serves to provide clarity on the nature, scope, and benefits of early palliative care integration into the management of patients with gynecologic malignancies.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is increased recognition that timely referral to palliative care improves quality of life for patients and their families by providing goal-concordant care that reduces physical and emotional suffering and limits futile and aggressive measures at the end of life. Palliative care services rendered throughout the continuum of illness ultimately increase engagement with hospice services and drive down health expenditures. Despite these myriad benefits, misconceptions remain, and barriers to and disparities in access to these services persist and warrant continued attention. Palliative care should be offered to all patients with advanced gynecologic cancers early in the course of their disease to maximize benefit to patients and their families.

Update in palliative care in gynecologic oncology

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review summarizes research advances in quality of life, symptom management, and end-of-life practices within palliative care that can benefit patients with gynecologic cancers.

RECENT FINDINGS

Addressing fertility issues, sexual side effects, and possible disease recurrence can promote quality of life in gynecologic cancer survivors. Cannabis can provide some benefit for nausea and neuropathic pain, yet for nonneuropathic pain presentations, it does not appear to provide significant benefit in reducing opioid usage. Lastly, palliative care outcomes, such as reduced aggressive care at the end of life and higher rates of hospice enrollment are augmented by the presence of an outpatient palliative care clinic.

SUMMARY

Ongoing advances in palliative care research hold potential for improvement in systems delivery of palliative care as well as symptom management and psychosocial support.