Palliative care for cancer patients

It is well known that palliative care is a necessity in cancer patients, as early on, as the time of diagnosis. Palliative care should not be mistaken with end of life care. Palliative care for cancer patients means caring for patients from all aspects. Besides best medical treatment, patients receive adequate psychological, spiritual, social, nutritional care etc. The focus is on the patient, i.e. real personalized medicine. Iran has a population of around 80 million people and, according to the official cancer registry, a yearly cancer incidence of around 100 thousand. We currently have around 8 active palliative care units for cancer patients and one palliative care ward in Iran, all run by charities. In these palliative care units, we have oncologists, palliative care specialists, pain specialists, psychologists, spiritual care specialists, social workers and dieticians. A total number of 5024 patients, ages between 16 and 94 (Median 61), of whom 3922 (89%) with a similar age distribution had a cancer diagnosis were referred to our palliative care unit in Firoozgar Hospital, which is run by the Ala Charity, in Tehran in the last three years. 1770 female (54%) and 1457 male (46%) cancer patients were referred. We have also a home care unit, supporting currently more than 300 patients monthly with palliative care at home. Iran, like many other countries, needs many more palliative care units. As palliative care is not financially lucrative, charities play a major role in setting up, maintaining and expanding these units.