Commentaries & Letters

Medicine has made huge steps forward in the treatment of cancer, but overall less has been done to address the impact of cancer on the lives of patients, their families and their communities.

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We have read with great interest the articles “Palliative Care Education in Ghana: Reflections on Teaching in West Africa” and “Providing Pain and Palliative Care Education Internationally,” which were published in the July/August 2011 issue of the Journal of Supportive Oncology. [1] and [2] We agree with Dr Fisch, Dr Paice,  »

In many ways, the Dartmouth Atlas has put end-of-life (EOL) care on the map of health-care policy debates. It has proven an invaluable resource to those interested in examining patterns of health-care utilization among elderly patients in the last 2 years of life.  »

Your patients may have gained insurance coverage for mental health services as of January 1, 2012. »

How to spot cancer patients at risk for PTSD and in need of a psychological referral. »

Influenced by Mother Teresa, these 'wishes' can help cancer patients express their end-of-life choices. »

When cancer takes the life of a celebrity, the news takes on special significance for those fighting the disease. »

Depression emerged as a significant barrier to secondary cancer screening in Latina survivors of breast cancer in a thought-provoking study released Sept. 19 at the American Association of Cancer Research Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Washington.

The cross-sectional study explored adherence to recommended screening guidelines... »

In this issue, Judith Paice and colleagues present an excellent “How We Do It” review on providing pain and palliative care education internationally.1 As a complement to this article, I will share a few reflections on my experience as an MD Anderson Cancer Center faculty member participating in the AfrOx-ASCO Palliative Care Conference, held January... »

All oncologists face treating patients with varying forms of emotional distress. In this issue of the Journal of Supportive Oncology, Morgans and Schapira's “Recognizing Depression in Patients with Cancer” offers a front-line approach to treat clinically depressed cancer patients.  »

We all feel disappointed, even uncomfortable, when therapy directed at the cancer process fails to change the course or the outcome of the disease in a patient of ours. That situation, often termed “therapeutic failure,” has, of course, many profound effects on the patient and family; but it also has an impact on ourselves as members of the medical team.... »