From adult to pediatric cancer: A new step from Iranian cancer control center (MACSA) as a charitable provider of supportive and palliative care in cancer treatment

Introduction: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is provided with the aim of improving the quality of life and reducing the suffering of patients and their families. Applying PPC services in the field of pediatric oncology is important due to the increasing number of children suffering from various malignancies. In recent years, the Iranian Cancer Control Center (MACSA), as a charitable organization with experience in providing supportive and palliative services to adult cancer patients, has expanded its service boundaries and started providing services in the field of pediatric cancer.Materials and method: The medical records of patients with hematological and oncological diseases referred to the MACSA PPC Department at Mofid Children's Hospital were reviewed. The demographic and medical information of the patients was extracted using pre-prepared forms.Results: From December ۲۰۲۳, to May ۲۰۲۴, a total of ۱۵۷ visits were made for ۱۲۳ patients in the MACSA PPC Department at Mofid Children's Hospital. The patients consisted of ۶۷ boys and ۵۶ girls. Among them, ۴۳ patients had hematological diseases, and ۸۰ patients had other types of malignancies. Most of the patients were between ۱ and ۱۰ years old (۷۸.۶۱%). Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (۲۳/۵۷%), neuroblastoma (۹.۷۵%), and aplastic anemia (۹.۷۵%) were the most common cases.Conclusion: The rise in children affected by various types of malignancies, along with advancements in managing and treating them, especially through chemotherapy and radiation, has intensified challenges experienced by patients and their families. Especially, the management of physical, mental, spiritual, personal, and social issues of the patients and their families have become crucial. Therefore, harnessing the potential of supportive and palliative care in this field pediatric cancer can enhance the quality of life and alleviate the suffering of the patient and their family. In this regard, MACSA has established the first pediatric palliative care department in Iran at Mofid Children's Hospital with the aim of providing palliative care services to children with cancer and their families.

کلیدواژه ها:

Palliative care ، pediatric palliative care ، malignancy