The necessity of supportive and palliative care in the treatment of pediatric cancer patients

Introduction: About ۴ million children worldwide who suffer from oncological diseases need pediatric palliative care (PPC) according to the severity of their illness. PPC is a comprehensive approach that continues in the whole course of the patient's illness, regardless of whether they get oncological treatment, and is not restricted to end-of-life care.Method: A comprehensive search on electronic databases such as PubMed and science direct and Scopus by using relevant keywords was conducted. Result: Improving the quality of life, management of symptoms, especially pain, as well as emotional support for children and their families are among the results of the integration of palliative care into the field of pediatric oncology. Referrals to palliative care units in pediatric cancer settings can enhance communication between families and health care providers. Providing supportive and palliative care services can facilitate the initiation of family meetings during the child's clinical deterioration. Palliative care input improves end-of-life care support for children and their families in a pediatric cancer setting. in pediatric palliative care, measuring functional status is essential to delivering high-quality and comprehensive treatment. Additionally, by assisting patients and their families in managing symptoms at home, pediatric palliative care lowers hospitalization expenses and promotes greater comfort and less suffering.Conclusion: Children diagnosed with cancer often face physical symptoms and a decline in their quality of life. Families are frequently caught off guard by the difficulties of dealing with the illness and struggle to manage the emotional toll it takes. Referring the children with cancer to palliative care services can greatly enhance their quality of life by offering symptom management, emotional support, and improved end-of-life care.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cancer ، Pediatric cancer Palliative care ، Supportive care