NCCN roundtable: Palliative care: Providing comfort from a patient and provider perspective

The words "palliative care" can be threatening for many patients, particularly for those who do not understand what they mean. In fact, according to a survey by the American Cancer Society, about 70% of adults in the United States are not at all knowledgeable about palliative care and how to get it. Often confused with hospice care, palliative care is a rapidly evolving and relatively new specialty focusing on a wide range of issues faced by patients with cancer both during and after treatment. At the NCCN 21st Annual Conference, a distinguished panel assembled to discuss palliative care through the eyes of patients and providers alike. The panel explored some of the barriers to integrating palliative care as well as strategies for overcoming these obstacles to ensure that patients have the opportunity to benefit from the valuable yet often unheralded services provided by palliative care specialists.