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Communication with Cancer Patients about Palliative and End-of-Life Care

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New Challenges in Communication with Cancer Patients

Abstract

Communication with a cancer patient and his/her family takes place in a dynamic way. Steps of communication concern the seriousness of the illness and the chances of cure, the ineffectiveness of treatment, the opportunity to start a palliative care program, and end-of-life decisions. The moment when palliative care should be offered depends on the attitude of the team that is in charge of the patient. In general, palliative care is offered when cancer-directed therapy is no longer effective. Nevertheless, there is an increasing trend to suggest palliative care earlier, at the diagnosis of cancer, not at the end of the treatment, thus encouraging synergy between palliative care providers and oncologists. This attitude can both increase the quality of life of the patient and limit the risks of a discontinuity of clinical management. The decision about the start of palliative care should be based on candid communication between physicians and patients, so as to allow the latter to make well-grounded decisions concerning treatment and the time necessary for each possible intervention to be carried out. Physicians should know the case history and the possibilities offered by palliative care as well as have cross-cultural competence to understand and speak in relation to the culture, expectations, and real needs of the patient and his/her family at each stage of illness.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Mrs. Cristina Musiani for her support in the ­translation and revision of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academy of the Sciences of Palliative Medicine, Via Aldo Moro, 16/3, 40010, Bentivoglio, Italy

    Guido Biasco MD, Matteo Moroni MD, PhD & Ludovica De Panfilis

  2. “Giorgio Prodi” Center for Cancer Research, University Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna, Italy

    Guido Biasco MD & Matteo Moroni MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Guido Biasco MD
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  2. Matteo Moroni MD, PhD
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  3. Ludovica De Panfilis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guido Biasco MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Medicine, New York University Medical School, First Avenue 530, New York, 10016, USA

    Antonella Surbone

  2. Institute of Oncology, Zaloška 2, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia

    Matjaž Zwitter

  3. Institute of Oncology, Zaloška 2, Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana-Center, Slovenia

    Mirjana Rajer

  4. 38th Street 2838, Astoria, 11103, New York, USA

    Richard Stiefel

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Biasco, G., Moroni, M., De Panfilis, L. (2013). Communication with Cancer Patients about Palliative and End-of-Life Care. In: Surbone, A., Zwitter, M., Rajer, M., Stiefel, R. (eds) New Challenges in Communication with Cancer Patients. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3369-9_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3369-9_16

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