We aim to review the benefits of palliative care, describe why a palliative approach to care is needed for patients with advanced penile squamous cell carcinoma and propose ways in which oncology nurses can improve access to and provision of palliative care.
A review of the literature was performed and identified a range of randomized trials and systematic reviews regarding the benefits of palliative care in this patient group. Cohort studies of patients with penile cancer were used to describe the psychosocial and physical disease burden of penile cancer.
Throughout each phase of penile cancer and its treatment, oncology nurses can engage in care that goes beyond cancer-directed treatments to address the whole person, thereby improving quality of life by delivering person-centered palliative care in line with individual needs.
Oncology nurses are in key positions to explore many concerns that patients with penile cancer have for themselves or their caregivers. Through speaking directly with patients and caregivers, oncology nurses can uncover sources of distress, assess for unmet needs, and advocate for improved primary palliative care or early referral to specialty palliative care teams.
Seminars in oncology nursing. 2022 May 21 [Epub ahead of print]
Lee A Hugar, Pauline Filippou, Sarah Thirlwell, Philippe E Spiess, Elizabeth M Wulff-Burchfield
Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL., Department of Urology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA., Chapters Health System, Temple Terrace, FL., Medical Oncology Division and Palliative Care Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Westwood, KS.