Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

Provide the rationale for integrating supportive and palliative care for patients with cancer earlier in the course of treatment and throughout the course of their disease

Detect common skeletal-related complications of cancer and cancer therapy, new pathways for treatment of bone metastases, and management of treatment-related adverse events

Recognize toxicities related to aggressive therapy, such as aromatase inhibitors and biologic therapies like IL-2 and EGFR inhibitors, mechanisms underlying these toxicities, and current strategies for their management

Distinguish common treatment issues in breast cancer patients, such as sexual dysfunction with hormonal therapy and cardiotoxicity with anthracyclines and trastuzumab, and how best to prevent or manage these toxicities

State the effects that cancer and its treatment can have on psychosocial aspects of patient care, including depression and grief, as well as cognitive function

Identify novel approaches to improving cancer pain management, including use of opioids or analgesics for control of neuropathy and cytokine-based therapy

Characterize symptoms seen in the post-transplant setting, such as late neurologic effects and GVHD, and current approaches for their management

Define major treatment-related issues for patients with advanced head and neck cancer and approaches for integrating their management with overall oral care

Restate current models of the mechanisms underlying cancer-related mucositis, constipation, and cachexia and list therapies targeting these pathways