A recent article from HealthDay highlights a concerning trend: many individuals with advanced cancer are underutilizing palliative care and hospice, despite the evidence that these services can significantly improve symptom management and enhance quality of life.
A Misalignment of End-of-Life Wishes & Care
A new study in JAMA Health Forum found that only one in four adults over the age of 65 with advanced cancer received any form of palliative care. Among those who did, most only received this support during the final month of their lives.
Instead, nearly half of patients received aggressive treatment in the last six months of their lives—often at the expense of supportive care. This contradicts what most people express they want for their end-of-life experience.
Palliative care aims to relieve pain and other symptoms while improving quality of life, even as patients continue to receive curative and disease-directed treatments. Hospice care prioritizes comfort and provides compassionate support during the dying process. Despite the significant benefits of these patient-centered forms of care, many people either do not access them at all or do not seek them out early enough.
A lack of awareness and misconceptions about palliative and hospice care contribute to their underutilization. The results of this study also indicate a tendency towards overtreatment and the fundamental challenge of weighing the risks and benefits of continuing treatment.
Additionally as another recent study shows, the end-of-life experiences of people with cancer can be heavily influenced by their healthcare providers. Login S. George, the lead author of the study, found that there can be a misalignment between doctors’ actions and their patients’ wishes at the end of life. As he notes, “A patient’s end of life is often not a reflection of what they want, but rather, who their oncologist happens to be.”
What’s Next?
The article highlights the importance of integrating palliative care early in the treatment process for people with advanced cancer. Early involvement can lead to better symptom management and patient and family satisfaction. Transitioning to hospice sooner can also alleviate symptoms, provide comfort, and enhance quality of life, helping people cherish the time they have left.
Healthcare providers have a responsibility to discuss these options clearly and proactively with patients, ensuring that care plans reflect each person’s wishes, goals, and priorities.
Through our Clinical Engagement & Education work, Compassion & Choices connects with clinicians nationwide to raise awareness about the importance of patient-directed care and provide end-of-life training and resources. The Clinical Engagement & Education team engages with clinicians and healthcare organizations on end-of-life issues to support the best patient experience possible.
Empowering Ourselves and Each Other
We can all have a say in our care by reflecting on our wishes, discussing them with healthcare providers and loved ones, documenting them in an advance directive, and advocating for ourselves.
It is also essential to educate ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities about different healthcare options, such as palliative and hospice care, so that we can make informed decisions when the time comes.
National Healthcare Decisions Day is on April 16, an annual day dedicated to advance care planning and sharing our wishes and goals for our future care. Get started with our free end-of-life decisions guide! You can download a digital version or request a hard copy today.
Mail contributions directly to:
Compassion & Choices Gift Processing Center
PO Box 485
Etna, NH 03750
Compassion & Choices is a 501 C3 organization. Federal tax number: 84-1328829
