Figure  

Palliative Care is Preventative Care

Components of preventative care Key aspects Example 1
Symptom Prevention
Example 2
Advance Care
Insight into Illness
  • Natural history
  • Prognostication
Stage IV pancreatic cancer = symptoms
Stage IV lung cancer = short prognosis
Foresight for individual
  • Anticipate concerns
  • Risk factors
Mild pain can now get worse
Patient will deteriorate
Interventions available
  • Risk reduction
  • Evidence-based
Opioids can be useful
Serious illness conversations
Introduce intervention
  • Timely initiation
  • Longitudinal follow-up
Start scheduled opioids
Educate and monitor
Prognostic discussions
Advance care planning
Crisis prevention
  • Improved outcomes
  • Preparations in place
Stage IV pancreatic cancer = symptoms
Better quality of end-of-life
Avoid intensive care unit visit

Footnote

Adapted from Hui D, Hannon BL, Zimmermann C, Bruera E. Improving patient and caregiver outcomes in oncology: Team-based, timely, and targeted palliative care. CA Cancer J Clin. Sep 2018;68(5):356-376. doi:10.3322/caac.21490.