Affiliations 

  • 1 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Northwest Health Communications, Edmonds, WA, USA
  • 2 University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
  • 3 University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
  • 4 Acibadem Maslak Hospital Breast Health, Istanbul, Turkey
  • 5 Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy, International Atomic Energy Agency, Lisbon, Portugal
  • 6 Champalimaud Cancer Center, Lisbon, Portugal
  • 7 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda
  • 8 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; University of Washington, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA, USA
  • 9 University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 10 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; University of Washington, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: banderso@fredhutch.org
Lancet Oncol, 2015 Mar;16(3):e137-47.
PMID: 25752564 DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(14)70457-7

Abstract

Supportive care and palliative care are now recognised as critical components of global cancer control programmes. Many aspects of supportive and palliative care services are already available in some low-income and middle-income countries. Full integration of supportive and palliative care into breast cancer programmes requires a systematic, resource-stratified approach. The Breast Health Global Initiative convened three expert panels to develop resource allocation recommendations for supportive and palliative care programmes in low-income and middle-income countries. Each panel focused on a specific phase of breast cancer care: during treatment, after treatment with curative intent (survivorship), and after diagnosis with metastatic disease. The panel consensus statements were published in October, 2013. This Executive Summary combines the three panels' recommendations into a single comprehensive document covering breast cancer care from diagnosis through curative treatment into survivorship, and metastatic disease and end-of-life care. The recommendations cover physical symptom management, pain management, monitoring and documentation, psychosocial and spiritual aspects of care, health professional education, and patient, family, and caregiver education.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.