Dr. Evans on the Importance of Integrating Palliative Care Early for Advanced Lung Cancer Patients

Tracey L. Evans, MD associate professor, clinical medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Health System, discusses the benefit of advanced lung cancer patients receiving palliative care early in their diagnosis.

Evans says many choices that oncologists make are based on survival benefit. However, there are other factors, such as quality of life, that should play into treatment decisions. In the case of advanced lung cancer, patients can experience symptoms from both the cancer and from the treatment.

A study found that early palliative care integration in advanced lung cancer patients improved depression scores, quality of life metrics and led to improved overall survival, Evans says.

Evans says early integration of palliative care can help manage all aspects of advanced lung cancer patients.

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