Cancer Article Comments on ASCO's Updated Guidelines for Integrating Palliative Care
The updated 2024 American Society Of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines emphasize integrating palliative care into oncology for all cancer patients, including those with hematological malignancies and in early-phase trials. In an article in Cancer, the journal of the American Cancer Society, authors comment that while they agree with the overall recommendations, workforce shortages and disparities in access challenge their implementation. The recommendations highlight prioritizing patients based on needs, leveraging primary palliative care, and utilizing telehealth to expand access. However, systemic changes in funding, education, and policy are critical to ensuring equitable and sustainable access to palliative care, addressing growing demand, and improving outcomes for patients living with cancer.