The inaugural Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium, held in Boston, October 24-25, 2014, focused on the need to incorporate palliative care throughout the cancer continuum. The meeting was cosponsored by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC).

During the symposium, faculty representing each of the cosponsors shared perspectives on palliative care and supportive care as it relates to the mission of each organization.

Michael Fisch, MD, MPH, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Chair of the Symposium Steering Committee, opened the meeting with an overview of the history of palliative care and its intersection with ASCO’s 50-year history. (See link to video at the end of this article.)

During the same session, “The Three Ms of Symptom Science—Mechanisms, Measurement, and Management,” Dorothy M. K. Keefe, MD, of the University of Adelaide and Immediate Past-President of MASCC, discussed the importance of building an increased understanding of symptom science to advance support of patients during and after their treatment. (See link to video at the end of this article.)

Perspectives of the integration of palliative care into radiation oncology were provided by Tracy A. Balboni, MD, MPH, of Harvard University during a session focused on the early integration of palliative care in cancer care. (See link to video at the end of this article.)

Ira Byock, MD, of the Geisel School of Medicine, discussed palliative care and the AAHPM perspective. (See link to video at the end of this article.)

Next year’s Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium will be held October 9-10, 2015, at the Boston Marriott Copley Place in Boston, Mass. Meeting information can be found on pallonc.org.