Despite a consensus that cancer patients should receive excellent care throughout their illnesses, care near the end of life continues to fall short of recommended guidelines. Dr. Betty Ferrell and associates from the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California searched the medical literature for evidence that care for cancer patients at the edge of life is improving. Unfortunately, they find, interest in improving care has outpaced action. The Institute of Medicine, in 1997, issued a formal report defining what constitutes good care at the end of life, stressing that patients were not then receiving adequate symptom relief and that the healthcare system was ill equipped and undertrained to meet these needs. According to the report in the February issue of The Lancet Oncology, serious deficiencies persist in meeting the physical, spiritual, and psychological needs of dying cancer patients. Widespread disease, worsening prospect of survival, prolonged illness, and increased distress contribute to a low quality of life for patients and their caregivers. Thanks to Reuters Health Ann's NOTE: I often say that current studies DO NOT include patients who are helping themselves with a complete regimen of complementary or alternatively used therapies. It is also important to realize that a doctor CANNOT tell when you personally will die. Please do not believe their death sentence, it is not based on the real you, but on studies of groups. Oncology Issues, 2/03 LINK to hospiceworld.org JAMA,1/04 Dying at Home: Good Death for Terminal Ca Pts J Supportive Care in Cancer, 2/04 Abstract # 8222 ASCO, 2004 DNR Policies Must be Flexible LINK "Our spiritually minded services and our resource project in Santa Cruz, California, are focused on finding the best care and support for people who are deemed hospice appropriate and on finding the best support for their families. We welcome all people in need of support regardless of their financial ability, age, sex or religion". Supportive Care in Cancer, 12/04 Caring for Patients During Last Hours of Life Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.