Palliative care in day-hospital for advanced cancer patients: a study protocol for a multicentre randomized controlled trial.

Background: Team-based and timely integrated palliative care is a gold standard of care in oncology, but issues concerning its optimal organization remain. Palliative Care in Day-Hospital (PCDH) could be one of the most efficient service model of palliative care to deliver interdisciplinary and multidimensional care addressing the complex supportive care needs of patients with advanced cancer. We hypothesize that, compared to conventional outpatient palliative care, PCDH allows the clinical benefits of palliative care to be enhanced.

Outcomes of exclusive radiation therapy for older women with breast cancer according to age and comorbidity status: An observational retrospective study.

The management of older patients with breast cancer, a public health issue, remains a highly topical subject. Among this heterogeneous population, only few studies have focused on outcomes of older women treated with exclusive radiation therapy for localized BC. This retrospective study provides data concerning the efficacy and safety of exclusive RT, as well as the impact of comorbidities according to the Charlson Comorbidity Index on survival in this subset of women not suitable for surgery or who have refused it.

[The decision to withdraw specific treatments in oncology].

Shared medical decision-making is a complex process, especially with regard to the withdrawal of specific treatments in oncology. On the one hand, patients, particularly vulnerable due to their advanced disease, and their family, apprehend this withdrawal. On the other hand, oncologists have more and more treatment options available to them thanks to the medical advances made over recent years.