In our society's aggressive pursuit of cures for cancer, we have neglected symptom control and comfort care. Less than one percent of the National Cancer Institute's budget is spent on any aspect of palliative care research or education, despite the half million people who die of cancer each year and the larger number living with cancer and its symptoms. Improving Palliative Care for Cancer examines the barriers—scientific, policy, and social—that keep those in need from getting good palliative care. It goes on to recommend public- and private-sector actions that would lead to the development of more effective palliative interventions; better information about currently used interventions; and greater knowledge about, and access to, palliative care for all those with cancer who would benefit from it.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Part 1: Executive Summary
1 Background and Recommendations
Part 2 2 Reliable, High-Quality, Efficient End-of-Life Care for Cancer Patients: Economic Issues and Barriers
3 Quality of Care and Quality Indicators for End-of-Life Cancer Care: Hope for the Best, Yet Prepare for the Worst
4 The Current State of Patient and Family Information About End-Of-Life Care
5 Palliative Care for African Americans and Other Vulnerable Populations: Access and Quality Issues
6 End-of-Life Care: Special Issues in Pediatric Oncology
7 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Psychosocial and Physical Symptoms of Cancer
8 Cross-Cutting Research Issues: A Research Agenda for Reducing Distress of Patients With Cancer
9 Professional Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care for Physicians, Nurses, and Social Workers
Index