Palliative care: a challenge for nurses

There is an ever-growing number of cancer patients in the world today. Of the estimated nine million new cancer cases diagnosed in 1997 worldwide, 52% occurred in developing countries (WHO, 1998). The mortality from cancer is expected to rise around the globe. About 7 million deaths per year occur in the world due to cancer, of which, approximately 0.8 million occur in India (WHO, 1994). There is no cure to date for this disease but definitely a lot can be done to make the lives of these people meaningful and productive. With this idea the concept of hospice and palliative care was initiated.