Timely integration of palliative care into cancer care

Abstract

In this issue, we have a Special Supplement focusing on palliative care. Despite many advances in oncology, the number of people living with incurable cancer is increasing, and cancer is still one of the leading causes of death in the world. In 2020, nearly 10 million people died due to cancer, which is nearly one in six deaths word wide (WHO, n.d.-a). Patients with incurable cancer need palliative care.Palliative care is defined by the WHO as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual (WHO, n.d.-b).