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[Incurable oncological patient?].
1Interni hematoonkologická klinika Fakultní nemocnice Brno.
Vnitrni Lekarstvi
|January 7, 2005
Summary
Even when a cancer patient cannot be cured, active treatment and care must continue. A shift in focus from anti-tumour therapy to supportive care addresses the whole patient, including their psychosocial and existential needs.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Palliative Care
- Patient Management
Context:
- Despite advances in cancer treatment, over half of patients still succumb to their disease.
- The term "incurable" is often misconstrued as "unfit to be treated," leading to premature cessation of care.
- Current oncology focuses heavily on anti-tumour treatments, potentially neglecting comprehensive patient needs.
Purpose:
- To challenge the misconception of "incurable" as "unfit to be treated."
- To advocate for a continuous, active treatment model for incurable cancer patients.
- To highlight the importance of integrating supportive and palliative care from the outset.
Summary:
- Active treatment for cancer patients should be viewed as a continuous process, not solely focused on anti-tumour therapies.
- Supportive care, addressing physical, psychosocial, and existential needs, should be integrated alongside anti-tumour treatment.
- When anti-tumour treatment options are exhausted, the focus shifts to optimizing supportive care, not terminating active treatment.
Impact:
- Promotes a holistic approach to cancer care, improving quality of life for incurable patients.
- Encourages a re-evaluation of treatment goals, shifting from cure-centric to patient-centric care.
- Establishes a framework for an active, team-based approach to managing incurable oncological conditions.