Communication of Early Integration of Palliative Care for Children With Cancer in Latin America: The Care as a Vessel Metaphor

Communication of Early Integration of Palliative Care for Children With Cancer in Latin America: The Care as a Vessel Metaphor

Garcia-Quintero X; Cleves D; Cuervo MI; McNeil M; Salek M; Robertson EG; Gomez W; Baker JN; Kaye EC

JCO Global Oncology

2023

Humans; Child; Communication; Palliative Care; Latin America; Neoplasms/therapy; Metaphor; Latin America/epidemiology

``Over the past two decades, pediatric palliative care (PPC) has evolved significantly, moving away from the concept of care provided solely at end-of-life and toward the concept of holistic, supportive care provided synergistically with disease-directed therapy across the illness course.1 Presently, the WHO defines PPC as holistic care involving all aspects of the life of a child with serious illness and their family, including the care and support of the body, mind, and spirit.2 As such, the WHO advocates for PPC provision to begin at the time of diagnosis of a life-limiting condition and continue across treatment, regardless of whether the goal is cure, life prolongation, or comfort.3 Numerous guidelines endorsed by national organizations similarly advocate for early integration of PPC in the care of patients with pediatric cancer,4-7 recognizing that involvement of PPC concurrently with cancer-directed treatment promotes patient-and family-centered care, aligns treatment with goals of care, and optimizes supportive care and quality of life.2,4-8...``

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2023 SE5 - Low Resource Setting