An integral part of a terminally ill patient’s treatment for cancer is the palliative care they receive from their medical team. It is widely accepted that a compassionate and holistic management of a patient’s wellbeing can have a beneficial effect on a patient’s response to their medical care and their ability to cope with their illness.

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal by Dr Alexi Wright, assistant Professor of Medicine at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, looked at the end-of-life care of 386 terminal cancer patients. Studying how the treatment of these terminally ill patients was addressed by the medical team, the research showed that many doctors find it difficult to initiate an end-of-life conversation with a patient, particularly younger patients. Such patients were less likely to have discussed their final wishes with their doctors, meaning many were placed on a ventilator and had a less peaceful death than those who ended treatment early. Cancer patients who receive chemotherapy during the last stages of their life are also more likely to die in hospital rather than their preferred location at home.

Dr Alexi Wright commented ‘Doctors don’t want to broach the subject of dying, especially in younger patients, because it makes those patients think we’re giving up on them Doctors are human beings, and sometimes we fail to have the clarity to determine when our patients are dying’. Dr Wright hopes the study will persuade doctors to talk through options with their patients, allowing them a more peaceful death.

Dr Shaheen Khan, Independent Oncology’s Palliative Medicine specialist, commented “The over-riding concern is to ensure that healthcare professionals are aware of what their patients want. This can be optimised via the process of “advance care planning” by palliative care specialists. Working with the patient, their loved ones and the medical team is key to ensure as positive an experience as possible for the patient”.

For more details about Dr Shaheen Khan, click here