Oncology Ny
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More than 50% of patients diagnosed with cancer in 2008 died in the same year, according to estimates from the American Cancer Society. Clearly, while survival rates for many cancers continue to improve, a significant number of patients with cancer will not survive their disease. Hospice care provides terminally ill patients with a unique set of benefits, services, and support. ⋯ Many barriers and misconceptions related to hospice care can prevent timely referrals and impede discussions. Also, conversations about goals of care, treatment preferences, and advanced care planning can be challenging and overwhelming. This article reviews the hospice care model and highlights ways in which oncology nurses can make a difference in how patients live their final days.
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Historical Article
Survivorship care: essential components and models of delivery.
Cancer survivorship is now recognized as a distinct phase of cancer care, but the process of delivering survivorship care continues to emerge. Nurses often play a pivotal role during the survivorship phase by identifying patient needs and making appropriate referrals to address the range of issues that may arise. Some nurses may also be directly involved in providing survivorship-focused clinical care. ⋯ Other common approaches to delivering survivorship care include oncology practice-based and community-based models. Yet, many survivors receive little or no follow-up care focused on their cancer survivorship needs. This article will review the rationale for providing specialized follow-up care for cancer survivors, describe the essential components of that care, and assess the various models that can be employed to implement cancer survivorship care delivery.