How to integrate medical oncology and palliative care?

Abstract

Received: August 09, 2019; Accepted: October 23, 2019; Published: October 26, 2019 If we start the discussion from the consideration that there are two modalities to approach the treatment for a patient, we will understand the need to integrate these approaches. The essential aspects of the integration of medical oncology with palliative care are summarized in a very concise manner in an article by Kaasa et al. published in Lancet Oncology in 2018. “The full integration of oncology and palliative care relies on the specific knowledge and skills of two modes of care: the tumour-directed approach, the main focus of which is on treating the disease; and the host-directed approach, which focuses on the patient with the disease” [1].