Integrating palliative care into end-of-life care for children with cancer

Abstract

ABSTRACT Caring for high-risk pediatric oncology patients and their families requires attention to many significant palliative care, often end-of-life (EOL), issues that providers should be armed to address. Caring for these patients specifically at the EOL requires a broad, interdisciplinary approach to address the patients’ physical, psychosocial, spiritual/existential and emotional suffering. In addition, the team should be aware of ethical concerns that may arise. This review focuses on primary incorporation of core palliative care principles into the care of pediatric oncology patients at the EOL. To promote best practice within pediatric oncology, core pediatric palliative care (PPC) principles should be incorporated throughout the illness trajectory by oncologists. For high-risk patients, specialty trained palliative care consultants should work in conjunction with primary oncology providers to optimize the care these patients receive. This review of experts’ experience, recent data and anticipated evolution of the field is intended as a primer for Palliative Care and EOL Care for pediatric oncologists and other pediatric oncology providers delivering primary palliative care in hospital, community and home settings.