Cancer Rehabilitation and Palliative Care-Exploring the Synergies

Rabeya A Chowdhury; Frank P Brennan; Matthew D Gardiner

doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.07.030

Cancer Rehabilitation and Palliative Care-Exploring the Synergies

J Pain Symptom Manage. 2020 Dec;60(6):1239-1252. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.07.030. Epub 2020 Aug 6.

Authors

Rabeya A Chowdhury¹, Frank P Brennan², Matthew D Gardiner³

Affiliations

¹ Calvary Health Care, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia.
² Calvary Health Care, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia; The St George Hospital, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia; The University of NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Calvary Health Care, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia; The St George Hospital, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia; The University of NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: Matthew.Gardiner@health.nsw.gov.au.

Abstract

With perpetual research, management refinement, and increasing survivorship, cancer care is steadily evolving into a chronic disease model. Rehabilitation physicians are quite accustomed to managing chronic conditions, yet, cancer rehabilitation remains unexplored. Palliative care physicians, along with rehabilitationists, are true generalists, who focus on the whole patient and their social context, in addition to the diseased organ system. This, together with palliative care's expertise in managing the panoply of troubling symptoms that beset patients with malignancy, makes them natural allies in the comprehensive management of this patient group from the moment of diagnosis. This article will explore the under-recognized and underused parallels and synergies between the two specialties as well as identifying potential challenges and areas for future growth.

Keywords: Cancer; QoL; exercise; palliative care; rehabilitation; synergy.

MeSH terms

Chronic Disease
Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing*
Humans
Medicine*
Neoplasms* / therapy
Palliative Care