Anaplastic gliomas: end-of-life care recommendations. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dirven, Linda; Sizoo, Eefje M; Taphoorn, Martin JB
• Is Part Of: CNS oncology. Volume 4:Number 5(2015)
• Page Start: 357
• Page End: 365
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: advance care planning -- brain tumor -- caregiver burden -- end of life -- end-of-life decision-making -- glioma -- organization of care -- palliative care; Central nervous system -- Tumors -- Periodicals; 616.99481
• DOI: 10.2217/cns.15.31
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-0907

Abstract

Despite multimodal antitumor treatment, all patients with an anaplastic glioma will be confronted with incurability in due course and enter the end-of-life (EOL) phase; the period when the patients' condition declines and tumor-directed treatment is no longer effective. Although palliative care is important in all stages of the disease, it is of utmost importance in the EOL phase. The main goal of palliative care is to improve or maintain the quality of life of the patients and their relatives through the prevention and relief of suffering. This review focuses on different aspects of the EOL phase (symptoms and signs, EOL decision-making, advance care planning, organization of care and caregiver burden) and will provide recommendations to optimize palliative care.