Curative intent vs palliative intent
Whether the goal of treatment is to eliminate the cancer for good (curative) or to control it, relieve symptoms and extend life when cure is not possible (palliative). The intent, not the drug, defines the word: the same chemotherapy can be either.
Curative-intent treatment usually combines surgery or radiotherapy with systemic therapy for localised or locally advanced disease and accepts more toxicity for a chance of cure; palliative-intent treatment for metastatic disease balances life extension against quality of life, and includes palliative radiotherapy for pain or bleeding and palliative surgery for obstruction. Best supportive care means symptom management without anticancer treatment and is the comparator in some trials. A growing minority of metastatic settings (oligometastatic disease, germ cell tumours, some lymphomas, MSI-high colorectal cancer on immunotherapy) blur the line, and early palliative care alongside curative or life-prolonging treatment improves outcomes.
Pages like this
not linked directly; found by shared links- TechnologyCancer pain management
Shares Hospice and end-of-life care, Palliative radiotherapy, Early integrated palliative care.
- PersonDame Cicely Saunders
Shares Hospice and end-of-life care, Early integrated palliative care.
- TermPalliative
Shares Palliative radiotherapy, Early integrated palliative care.
- Key paperTemel: early palliative care alongside chemotherapy improved quality of life, mood and survival in lung cancer
Shares Hospice and end-of-life care, Early integrated palliative care.