Palliative care is rapidly evolving, growing, and increasing in visibility—and optimal delivery models of this care to patients with cancer are evolving as well. Accordingly, the November 2011 issue of Journal of Oncology Practice (JOP) focuses on palliative care for patients with a diagnosis of advanced cancer.

“The evidence base for palliative care interventions is complex enough that efficiently and effectively keeping up-to-date and providing best care requires its own specialty,” said JOP guest editor Amy P. Abernethy, MD, of Duke University Medical Center and Flinders University, Australia.

Dr. Abernethy stresses that although end-of-life care is a critical subset of palliative care, it is only “part of the story.” Accordingly, the JOP issue also features articles on issues of emerging importance in this field. “As palliative care is increasingly woven into the fabric of health care, it will be critical that it is mainstreamed into the cancer care enterprise,” she said. “The rewards to be gained will be manifest and will help redirect patient care back to its roots in relieving suffering and focusing on living.”

Series highlights include:

• The topic of multi-morbidity
• Communication links between palliative care and oncology
• “Perspectives From the Other Side: A Physician and Cancer Survivor”—an essay by Susan C. Stone, MD, on being an oncologist and a patient with cancer preparing for a stem cell transplant. Dr. Stone is Associate Director for Palliative Care Services at Cedars Sinai Hospital.

To access this special series, visit jop.ascopubs.org.