Treatment options in end-of-life care: the role of palliative chemotherapy

Kathryn McCall, Bridget Johnston

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    11 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Advances in medical science and technology, combined with the primary goal of medical care to restore or maintain health as far as possible, often result in the transition from active to palliative care being blurred. Treatment choices are limited in advanced disease; but paradoxically, which therapy to choose is becoming an increasingly complex decision (Weissman, 2004). The role of chemotherapy in this phase remains a controversial subject, but data are emerging to show that an increasing number of patients nearing the end of life are receiving chemotherapy (Matsuyama et al, 2006), and there is a mounting body of evidence for its use in symptom palliation (Cullen, 2003; Bowcock et al, 2004; Davis, 2005). Therefore, the traditional view that medical oncology and palliative care are two distinct disciplines may need to be modified.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)486-488
    Number of pages3
    JournalInternational Journal of Palliative Nursing
    Volume13
    Issue number10
    Publication statusPublished - 2007

    Keywords

    • Chemotherapy
    • Palliative care
    • Terminally ill

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