Better access to palliative care can improve the experience for metastatic breast cancer patients

Better access to palliative care can improve the experience for metastatic breast cancer patients

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Series Title(s):
Health policy fact sheet (Online)
Author(s):
Scheitler, A.J., author
Babey, Susan H., author
Shimkhada, Riti, author
Glenn, Beth, author
Ponce, Ninez A., author
Contributor(s):
UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, issuing body.
Publication:
Los Angeles, CA : UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, April 2021
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Breast Neoplasms -- therapy
Health Services Accessibility
Neoplasm Metastasis
Palliative Care
California
United States
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Palliative care is an important part of care for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), yet it is widely misunderstood. (1) Palliative care is too often perceived solely as end-of-life care rather than as a way to manage pain and improve quality of life. (2) Investment in clinician training can help promote palliative care as an important part of care for MBC patients. In 2019, 30,650 individuals were diagnosed with breast cancer in California, and 4,620 died from the disease. Metastatic breast cancer, also called stage 4 or advanced breast cancer, was the cause of nearly all of these deaths. An estimated 30% of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer will go on to develop MBC. The five-year survival rate for MBC is only 27%, compared to 91% for breast cancer that has spread to lymph nodes and 99% for cancer that is confined to the breast. In this fact sheet, we present findings from interviews, discussions, and studies (see boxed section) on barriers to accessing palliative care, and we recommend policy solutions that could improve survivors' understanding of and access to care for breast cancer that has metastasized.
Copyright:
Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY license. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (3 pages)).
NLM Unique ID:
9918351183106676 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918351183106676