Beyond Cure in Advanced Cancer: Preserving Function, Dignity, and Participation Through Palliative Rehabilitation

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Palliative Care
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Cancer survivorship is increasing, leading to more individuals living with advanced or incurable disease.
• Current cancer care often prioritizes disease and symptom management over functional ability and patient participation.
• Functional decline can lead to dependence, caregiver burden, and social isolation, even with symptom control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the recognition of function preservation as a central goal in advanced cancer care.
• To highlight the role of palliative rehabilitation in optimizing function and participation for patients with progressive illness.
• To emphasize the need for better integration of palliative rehabilitation into cancer care services.

Main Methods:

• This report synthesizes current understanding of advanced cancer care needs and rehabilitation principles.
• It reviews the benefits of interventions within palliative rehabilitation, such as activity modification and assistive devices.
• The report discusses the challenges and necessity of integrating palliative rehabilitation into existing health systems.

Main Results:

• Preservation of function directly supports patient dignity, autonomy, and participation in life.
• Palliative rehabilitation interventions enable continued engagement in meaningful activities, improving quality of life.
• Inconsistent integration of palliative rehabilitation limits its impact on holistic cancer care.

Conclusions:

• Function preservation should be a core goal in advanced cancer care, complementing symptom management.
• Palliative rehabilitation offers a framework to optimize function and participation for individuals with advanced cancer.
• Enhanced integration of palliative rehabilitation into clinical pathways is essential for person-centered advanced cancer care.