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Care Coordination for End-of-Life Discussions for Pediatric Cancer Patients

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Pediatric Surgical Oncology

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Abstract

While great strides have been made in the treatment of pediatric malignancies, a significant proportion of children with cancer will eventually die of their disease – especially in resource-constrained settings. As a patient approaches death, they often experience extensive physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual suffering along with the suffering of their families. One of the key elements in providing care for these children and their families is effective and compassionate care coordination and communication regarding end-of-life issues. This care coordination and these discussions about end-of-life care require thoughtful efforts in several areas, including (1) assessing goals of care and supporting advance care planning; (2) assessing and supporting psychosocial, emotional, cultural, and spiritual elements of care; (3) providing anticipatory guidance regarding end-of-life symptoms; and (4) preparing for and providing bereavement support. Thoughtful and compassionate communication regarding end-of-life care is a critical skill for any clinician caring for children with cancer.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

    Shahzadi Resham

  2. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, USA

    Justin N. Baker & Michael J. McNeil

Authors
  1. Shahzadi Resham
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  2. Justin N. Baker
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  3. Michael J. McNeil
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shahzadi Resham .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Kokila Lakhoo

  2. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA

    Abdelhafeez H. Abdelhafeez

  3. Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Simone Abib

Section Editor information

  1. Pediatric Oncology Institute, GRAACC Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Carlota Blassioli

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Resham, S., Baker, J.N., McNeil, M.J. (2023). Care Coordination for End-of-Life Discussions for Pediatric Cancer Patients. In: Lakhoo, K., Abdelhafeez, A.H., Abib, S. (eds) Pediatric Surgical Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71113-9_50-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71113-9_50-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-71113-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-71113-9

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