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The Surgeon and Palliative Care

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Abstract

The incidence of cancer will continue to rise in the United States as the population ages. Despite the many advances in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment of neoplastic diseases, the number of people succumbing to their cancers will similarly increase. As these patients encounter symptoms toward the end of life, palliative means, both surgical and nonsurgical, must be employed to alleviate pain and suffering. This article reviews the definitions of palliative care, methods for evaluating quality of life and effect of interventions, unique aspects of surgical palliation, attitudes of surgeons concerning palliative surgery, and data from palliative surgery studies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Oncologic Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA

    Yale D. Podnos MD, FACS & Lawrence D. Wagman MD, MPH

  2. Department of General Oncologic Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA

    Lawrence D. Wagman MD, MPH

Authors
  1. Yale D. Podnos MD, FACS
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  2. Lawrence D. Wagman MD, MPH
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lawrence D. Wagman MD, MPH.

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Podnos, Y.D., Wagman, L.D. The Surgeon and Palliative Care. Ann Surg Oncol 14, 1257–1263 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-006-9222-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-006-9222-6

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