Integrative pathways to wellness: Exploring Ayurvedic principles and practices in cancer management

Lung cancer management challenges amidst COVID-19 pandemic: hope lives here.

National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care: Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care, Executive Summary

Outpatient Clinics Are a New Frontier for Palliative Care

Virtual Oncology in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic: Moving Forward!

Lung Cancer in Sudan

Palliative care and palliative medicine embrace the philosophy and the body of knowledge regarding the correct treatment of patients with terminal disease. Palliative treatments can be delivered intramurally (eg, in a hospice or palliative care unit) or at home (home care hospice). The optimal delivery pattern consists of the co-utilization of both care settings, to allow patients who need palliative, supportive, and terminal care to benefit from each setting. In obtaining the available resources, health service costs in Western countries have lately become exorbitant. Home care hospice is a system capable of defeating the challenge on two fronts: to meet the patients' needs and to fulfill this task through economically advantageous practices. Home care hospice is undoubtedly more cost-effective than conventional or generic home care, conventional care (hospitalization), and inpatient hospice care. Its advantage is more evident in the last 3 months of life, due to shorter hospitalization and nonutilization of high-technology interventions and high-cost drugs. The development of a range of palliative care programs integrating primary territorial care and specialized palliative services can constitute the ideal synthesis to respond to patients' needs in a threefold manner: firstly, the patient's right to qualified palliative and terminal care; secondly, the requirements of health services, and lastly, cost containment through a correct and tailored use of available resources.

979 Dr. William Breitbart, chief of the Psychiatry Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, describes his current research on a meaning-centered psychotherapeutic intervention that he has designed in order to help terminally ill patients with cancer sustain hope and meaning as they approach the end of their lives. Drawing inspiration and ideas from the works of psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl, Dr. Breitbart and his fellow, Dr. Mindy Greenstein, designed an 8-week, group-focused, manualized course of experiential exercises, which is being compared to an 8-week, manualized cancer support group intervention, to see how well meaning-focused care can address a constellation of constructs that he and his colleagues are calling “despair at the end of life.” The component constructs of despair at the end of life include hopelessness, depression, loss of meaning, suicidal ideation, and desire for hastened death. In the following interview with Innovations Associate Editor Karen S. Heller, Dr. Breitbart describes the conceptual evolution of his thinking about despair at the end of life, and details the research on meaning-centered psychotherapy in which he is now engaged. Although the study is still ongoing, preliminary findings suggest that although both types of group intervention reduce patients’ psychological distress and depression and enhance social support, the meaning-centered intervention is more effective in increasing spiritual well-being and a sense of meaning, and in reducing hopelessness and desire for death.

Background and purposeCancer remains a leading cause of death in Australia. The number of new cancer cases diagnosed each year is expected to surpass 200,000 by 2033. This marks a significant increase from about 88,000 cases in 2000 to an estimated 165,000 cases in 2023. Despite advancements in treatment, emotional and psychological challenges in cancer care are often overlooked. This study focuses on hypnotherapy, a complementary therapy recognized for its efficacy for physical and emotional symptoms, yet underutilized in Australian cancer care. The research aims to explore patients' perceptions of hypnotherapy and identify barriers to its integration, contributing to the development of holistic, patient-centered cancer care models. Materials and methodsA qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews was conducted with 14 adult cancer patients (breast, lung, and colorectal) undergoing active treatment, selected through convenience sampling. The interviews were carried out from May 2022 to August 2023, focusing on participants' experiences and attitudes toward hypnotherapy among other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. Thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke's six-step framework was applied to the data. ResultsFive themes were developed following analysis: 1) emotional roller coaster of cancer diagnosis, 2) participants’ perspectives on hypnotherapy among other CAM modalities, 3) hypnotherapy as a psychological vs physiological support, 4) fringe benefits of hypnosis, and 5) the main hurdles: cost and lack of information. Participants expressed a diverse range of experiences and attitudes towards hypnotherapy and CAM, with a strong emphasis on the need for emotional support in cancer care. Although hypnotherapy was recognized for its potential to address both emotional and physical symptoms, its predominant use was for emotional well-being. Participants also highlighted the importance of attitudes and endorsements from healthcare providers in their decision-making process about CAM therapies. ConclusionThe study findings emphasize the need for a more integrative and patient-centered approach in cancer care that includes hypnotherapy as a non-pharmacological intervention for physical and particularly emotional support. Healthcare providers should be aware of the potential value of hypnotherapy and consider patient preferences in their recommendations. In addition, addressing the identified barriers could improve the accessibility and integration of hypnotherapy into cancer care protocols in Australia.

109IN - It'S Time to Stop: When to Initiate Palliative Therapy

Ensuring that national governance and healthcare systems include the organization and provision of palliative care in all care settings for all patients in need is a global imperative. In cancer care, early palliative care can improve quality of life for patients and families and receiving specialised palliative care increases opportunities for care and death in the preferred place, which for a majority is the own home. In Sweden, national general health policy only vaguely addresses palliative care, leading to the introduction of specific guidelines in 2013. These coexist with national disease-specific guidelines for cancer care that are ambiguous in their conceptualisation and inclusion of palliative care. From a governance and organisation perspective, place of death serves as a key indicator of palliative care infrastructure and organisation. Since policy initiation in 2013, hospital has remained the predominant place of death in Sweden. Further, regional disparities persist and are influenced by factors such as age, sex, and access to specialised services, pointing to inequities and unsatisfactory governance and organisation of palliative care. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of cancer care leads and patient representatives on national governance and organisation of palliative cancer care. Interpretive description methodology was used to generate and inductively analyse data from group discussions and individual interviews with 36 cancer- and palliative care leads, and patient representatives from the six Swedish regional cancer centres. The analysis revealed patterns of interdependent conditions that, from the perspectives of cancer care leads and patient representatives shape the governance and organisation of palliative cancer care and seemingly trigger ambiguity regarding responsibilities and inequalities in service provision: Multilevel knowledge gaps about palliative care; Challenges and complexities of providing palliative care in a fragmented healthcare system; and Policy impact and ownership problems. The study revealed significant challenges in national palliative cancer care governance, primarily due to a multilevel knowledge gap about palliative care, a fragmented healthcare system, and non-directive national policies. Integration of mandatory national minimum requirements for palliative care in national policy, and clearer standards for palliative care resource allocation are needed. Comprehensive strategies and coordinated efforts that can be uniformly implemented across regions, and establishing national collaborative spaces for regional stakeholders are essential to ensure equitable and timely access to palliative care for all patients with advanced cancer.

Opioids, pain, and fear

Direct Medical Costs of an Argentinean Domiciliary Palliative Care Model

Ensnared by positivity: A constructivist perspective on ‘being positive’ in cancer care

With the evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI), even cancer care approaches are evolving as it is providing innovative solutions to some of the most complex challenges in oncology. This article delves into how AI is making a profound impact across the cancer care spectrum worldwide, from early detection and precise diagnosis to the personalization of treatment and improved patient management. By harnessing AI's ability to analyze massive datasets and identify patterns beyond human perception, healthcare professionals can offer more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatments tailored to individual patient needs. This review also highlights the most recent advancements in AI-driven technologies in oncology and looks toward the future, where AI's role is expected to expand further. By discussing the potential and challenges of AI in cancer care, this article offers insights into how it is reshaping oncology practice, with the ultimate goal of enhancing patient outcomes and revolutionizing cancer treatment. This article aims to explore the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in oncology, focusing on its impact on early cancer detection, precise diagnosis, personalized treatment, and overall patient management. It seeks to provide insights into the recent advancements of AI in cancer care, the challenges associated with its integration, and the potential future directions in oncology.A comprehensive review of literature was conducted, focusing on AI applications in oncology, including diagnostic imaging, precision oncology, and clinical decision support systems. Recent studies were analyzed to understand the role of AI-driven technologies in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management. Inclusion criteria: Peer-reviewed articles, case studies, and reviews published in the last five years that focus on the application of AI in oncology, including early cancer detection, diagnostic accuracy, personalized treatment, and clinical decision support systems. Exclusion criteria: Articles that did not focus on oncology, did not involve AI technologies, or were not peer-reviewed were excluded from this review. AI has shown significant improvements in cancer detection and diagnostic accuracy, particularly through advanced imaging techniques and personalized treatment strategies. AI-powered diagnostic tools have revolutionized imaging by enhancing detection rates and reducing diagnostic errors. Moreover, AI has played a crucial role in tailoring therapeutic interventions based on individual patient characteristics, thus contributing to precision oncology. AI is revolutionizing cancer care by improving diagnostic precision, personalizing treatments, and enhancing patient outcomes. However, challenges such as data privacy, algorithm bias, and regulatory complexities must be addressed. Future innovations in AI, along with collaborative efforts, will further enhance cancer care and pave the way for AI-driven oncology practices globally.

Cancer and palliative care in Africa.