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.
Looking for something specific? Try the search bar below.

Introduction
Antiracist Care
Discriminatory healthcare experiences and medical mistrust in patients with serious illness.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2024;67:317-326.
Electronic patient-reported outcome-driven symptom management by oncology pharmacists in a majority-minority population: an implementation study.
JCO Oncol Pract 2024;20:1744-1754.
Racial and ethnic disparities in opioid access and urine drug screening among older patients with poor-prognosis cancer near the end of life.
J Clin Oncol. 2023;41:2511-2522.
Mentorship experiences are not all the same; a survey study of oncology trainees and early-career faculty.
JCO Oncol Pract 2023:19:808-818.
Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about delivering antiracist care to Black Americans.
J Palliat Med 2022;25:479-487.
How racialized approaches to opioid use disorder and opioid misuse management hamper pharmaco-equity for cancer pain.
J Clin Oncol 2024;43:10-14.
Culturally appropriate patient-provider communication methods for Black women with breast cancer: a scoping review.
Support Care Cancer 2025;33:396
Social determinants of health and cancer care: an ASCO policy statement.
JCO J Oncol Pract 2024;20:621-630.
Caring for Patients of Faith
Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about caring for Penecostal patients.
J Palliat Med 2023;26:559-564.
End-of-life considerations for the Pentecostal patient #449.
J Palliat Med 2022;25:1877-1888.
End-of-life care considerations for the Orthodox Jewish patient; Fast facts and Concepts #494.
J Palliat Med 2025;28:280-281
End of Life Considerations for Muslim Patients
Fast Facts and Concepts #435. J Palliat Med 2022; 25:678-679.
Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Caring for Muslims
J Palliat Med 2022; 25:807-812.
Serious illness care considerations for Hindu patients #475.
J Palliat Med 2024;27:423-424.
Difficult Patients
Taking Care of the Hateful Patient
N Engl J Med 1978; 298:883-837. PMID: 634331s DOI: 10.1056/NEJM197804202981605
Discussing Sexuality
“Sexuality, Intimacy, and Cancer,” in Abrahm J, Collins M, Daubman B-R. Comprehensive Guide to Supportive and Palliative Care for Patients with Cancer, 4th ed.
Johns Hopkins University Press, 2022, pp.131-165
Feasibility and effectiveness of communication tools for addressing intimacy and sexuality in patients with cancer: a systematic review.
Support Care Cancer 2024;32:109
The Sexual Health Conversation Patients Wish You’d Start: Insights from Dr. Sharon Bober
September 2025
Sexuality and Cancer
AfterCancer.co
LGBTQ+ Patients
LGBTQ-Inclusive Hospice and Palliative Care: A Practical Guide to Transforming Professional Practice
New York: Harrington Park Press. 2017
Debunking sex and disentangling gender from oncology.
J Clin Oncol 2023;41:3791-3795
Why good cancer care means gender-affirming care for transgender individuals with gendered cancers: implications for research, policy, and practice.
J Clin Oncol 2023;41:3591-3594.
State of cancer care in America: achieving cancer health equity among sexual and gender minority communities.
How do I honor you? On caring for LGBTQ+ patients and families as an LGBTQ+ clinician.
Ann Intern Med 2023;176:1428-1429
What Oncologists Should Know About Treating Sexual and Gender Minority Patients with Cancer
J Oncol Pract 2020; 16:309–16.
Adding Silver to the Rainbow: Palliative and End-of-Life Care for the Geriatric LGBTQ Patient
Journal of Palliative Medicine 2019;22:602-6.
Material, psychological, and behavioral financial hardship among lesbian, gay, and bisexual cancer survivors in the United States.
JCO Oncol Pract 2024;20:1721-1732.
Caring for LGBTQ+ Patients
June 2025
End-of-life care for transgender elders: Priorities for clinical practice, research and health policy
statnews.com/2023/08/22/trans-hospice-care-end-of-life
fenwayhealth.org/the-fenway-institute/lgbtqia-aging-project
hrc.org/resources/stances-of-faiths-on-lgbt-issues-metropolitan-community-churches
Patients from Different Cultures
Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about caring for Filipino American and Korean American patients.
J Palliat Med 2024;27:104-111.
Barriers and facilitators to advance care planning among Chinese patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers
J Palliat Med 2022; 25:774-782.
End-of-life considerations for patients of East Asian descent.
J Palliat Med 2024;27:1555-1557.
Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about caring for Chinese American patients.
J Palliat Med 2023;26:423-430.
End-of-life care considerations for the Hispanic patient in the United States #469.
J Palliat Med 2023;26:1744-1745.
Recognizing and Addressing Spiritual Concerns
The spiritual event of serious illness.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2018;56:816-822
“God is going to help me get through this”: spirituality perspectives from Hispanic adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.
Support Care Cancer 2024;32:348. Note: Only abstract content is available.
Addressing a Patient’s Hope for a Miracle
J Pain Symptom Manage 2018; 55:535–539
Working with Medical Interpreters and Other Key Clinical Collaborators
Invisible Sufferers: Hidden in Plain Sight
Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA. Note: Only unpublished manuscript is available
What’s Lost in Translation: A Dialogue-Based Intervention That Improves Interpreter Confidence in Palliative Care Conversations
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 2021; 62:609-614.
Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech language pathology.
J Palliat Med 2024;27:681-687.
The emotional effects on professional interpreters of interpreting palliative care conversations for adult patients: a rapid review.
Palliative Med 2023;37:931-946
Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Working with Medical Interpreters
Journal of Palliative Medicine 2022;25:1426-30.
Experiences of medical interpreters during palliative care encounters with limited English proficiency patients: a qualitative study.
J Palliat Med 2023;26:784-789
Missed opportunities when communicating with limited English-proficient patients during end-of-life conversations: insights from Spanish-speaking and Chinese-speaking medical interpreters.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2020;59:694-701
Basic Curriculum for Palliative Care Dialogue with Interpreters (BWH, August 2024).
Note: Can be submitted for CEU Credits for interpreters.
Miscellaneous
Redefining Palliative Care and The Role of Supportive Care in Cancer Treatment with Dr. Janet Abrahm
November 17, 2024
Comments from Dr. Abrahm:
URIM physicians were less likely to have a primary mentor, met less frequency, were more likely to have mentors outside their institution and to make compromises to get a mentor. In sum, “URIM individuals may be less likely to have effective mentorship and apply for awards and grant support.”