Addressing Palliative Care in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

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Patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis B or C virus infections and those with alcoholic liver disease are at increased risk for HCC developing.  Late detection complicates the management of HCC; however, approximately 40% of people have advanced disease at diagnosis, when limited therapeutic options remain. 

Infectious Disease Advisor discussed the latest insights about integrating palliative care into the treatment of patients with HCC with Christopher D. Woodrell, MD, assistant professor in the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, and Lissi Hansen, RN, PhD, professor at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Nursing in Portland.

Below is the list of topics discussed in the article

  • Why are patients with HCC especially suited for palliative care?
  • How much is known about the specific palliative care needs of patients with HCC?
  •  What type of research still needs to be conducted to bridge this knowledge gap?
  • What are the main goals of palliative care interventions for patients with HCC?
  • Can palliative care improve the overall outcomes of patients with HCC?
  • Which aspects of HCC are the cause of greatest burden for patients and their families?
  • How can early palliative care in patients with HCC help alleviate some of the burdensome aspects of this disease?
  • What are some of the challenges of integrating palliative care into the treatment plan for patients with HCC?
  • How can some of these challenges be overcome?

Read the complete article and the answers to the questions here: https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/hepatitis-advisor/palliative-care-in-hepatocellular-carcinoma/article/769118/