Loading...
In a previous randomized trial, investigators in Boston demonstrated that patients with metastatic lung cancer who received outpatient palliative care (in addition to standard oncologic treatment) had better quality of life (QOL) and longer survival than did patients who received standard oncologic care only (NEJM JW Gen Med Oct 15 2010 and N Engl J Med 2010; 363:733). Now, this team has performed a similar study that involved 350 patients with recently diagnosed incurable lung cancer or noncolorectal gastrointestinal cancer (i.e., pancreatic, gastric, esophageal, or hepatobiliary cancer). Patients were randomized to usual oncology care plus monthly outpatient visits to a palliative care practice or to usual oncology care only.
Mean QOL and …