Palliative Care for People With Hepatocellular Carcinoma, and Specific Benefits for Older Adults.

Palliative Care for People With Hepatocellular Carcinoma, and Specific Benefits for Older Adults. Clin Ther. 2018 Mar 20;: Authors: Woodrell CD, Hansen L, Schiano TD, Goldstein NE Abstract PURPOSE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer, has a rapidly rising prevalence in the United States and a very poor overall rate of survival. This epidemic is driven by the cohort of aging Baby Boomers with hepatitis C viral infection and the increasing prevalence of cirrhosis as a result of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Because curative options are limited, the disease course creates, in patients and their families, distressing uncertainty around prognosis and treatment decisions. Older adults are disproportionately affected by HCC and have more comorbidities, adding to the complexity of the disease. This population would benefit from increased access to palliative care services, which can potentially complement the treatments throughout the disease trajectory. The purpose of this review was to use existing evidence to propose a new model of palliative care integration in patients with HCC. Thus, we focus on the HCC stage and the treatment algorithm, the ways that palliative care can offer support in this population at each stage, as well as elements that can enhance patient and family support throughout the entire disease trajectory, with an emphasis on the care of older adults with HCC. METHODS: Th...
Source: Clinical Therapeutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Clin Ther Source Type: research