Evidence of quality of life improvements in patients with advanced-stage cancer has spurred a move towards early integration of palliative care into the outpatient setting. As discussed herein, meaningful and sustained improvements in timely access to palliative care requires commitments to funding, encouraging integration and routinizing referral across care settings. More palliative medicine training positions as well as broader education of clinicians and the public about the benefits of palliative care throughout the disease course are also needed.
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Acknowledgements
The work of C.Z. is supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (grant number 152996) and by the Rose Chair in Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto.
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Cancer Facts & Figs. 2020: https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/all-cancer-facts-figures/cancer-facts-figures-2020.html
Optimal Resources for Cancer Care — 2020 Standards: https://www.facs.org/-/media/files/quality-programs/cancer/coc/optimal_resources_for_cancer_care_2020_standards.ashx
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Mathews, J., Zimmermann, C. Palliative care services at cancer centres — room for improvement. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 17, 339–340 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41571-020-0374-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41571-020-0374-2
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