Palliative Care of Patients With Cancer: Guidelines From the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

Guideline source: National Comprehensive Cancer Network

Evidence rating system used? No

Systematic literature search described? Yes

Guideline developed by participants without relevant financial ties to industry? Yes

Recommendations based on patient-oriented outcomes? Yes

Published source:J Natl Compr Canc Netw. July 2021; 19(7):780-788

Available at: https://jnccn.org/view/journals/nccn/19/7/article-p780. xml?rskey=G7L9O8&result=33

American Family Physician 106(1):p 102-103, July 2022.

Monitoring and addressing distress in patients with cancer and their caregivers are fundamental aspects of palliative care.
Anticancer therapy can be an element of palliative care, although benefits are unlikely when cancer is progressive and metastatic.
Adding nonpharmacologic therapies including massage and art or music therapy to medications improves pain and mood.
Although cachexia is common in advanced cancer, evaluating for treatable causes can be helpful.

From the AFP Editors