Palliative Care
Resources
A primary objective of this website is to offer the most helpful and up to date resources in supportive and palliative care for oncologists and palliative care clinicians. From her ongoing practice of palliative care and the extensive research behind the 4th edition of her book, Dr. Abrahm has created and curated material in four content areas, offering highly practical and effective advice in areas such as symptom management, communication with patients and their families, preventing physician burnout, care of patients from a variety of faiths and cultures, LGBTQ+ patients, and patients at the end of life and their bereaved families. The content will be updated regularly so please continue to check back.
Looking for something specific? Try the search bar below.
Pain and Symptom
Management
Symptom management is at the core of our care for patients with cancer. When their symptoms are not controlled, it is difficult to explore any other areas of distress, psychological, spiritual/existential, or emotional. Here you’ll find links to books and websites for assessment and management of all the common symptoms experienced by cancer patients, and newsletters and articles that discuss particularly challenging topics.
Communications with
Patients and Families
Many of us can use ongoing training in communicating with patients and families. Here, you’ll find techniques to address a broad range of topics that you have likely encountered including how to break bad news, how to break really bad news, and how to assess what is really going on when patients or families’ questions seem difficult to understand or untangle. You’ll see how to recognize existential suffering and your own moral distress, which can happen when, for example, you are asked to help patients end their lives.
Special Topics
The more we explore diversity, equality, and inclusion, the more we appreciate the richness of cultures and beliefs our patients and their families hold. Concerns of these communities differ, and in ways that will impact their care: their chosen language, health literacy, sexual orientation and gender identity, culture, religious teachings, and spirituality. Resources here will help you navigate these waters safely while earning trust.
End of Life and
Bereavement
In this difficult area, we offer clues to help patients and families understand their grief , ways to support them in that grief, along with ways to enhance the possibility that their dying will be a comfortable one. We also recognize your grief as a clinician and directly address physician burnout, how you can tell if you’re on the way, if you’re there, and what you can do about it.