Approach to the children with cancer in the terminal phase and their families

Although 70% of children with cancer survive, about 30% will experience recurrence, progression and death. Palliative care, is the symptomatic care that is given to patients in whom survival is no longer expected. It includes physical, emotional, social and spiritual elements. It should aim to obtain a good quality of life for the child and relief pain. Other measures are also taken to relief symptoms. Although the decision to go on with palliative therapy is similar in the whole world; geographical, social and cultural differences should be regarded when communicating with the child and family. Terminal care is a team work, and is a hard time emotionally for both the child, family and medical staff. The development of hospices and palliative care units are very important for both the patients and the medical staff involved.

Keywords: Attitude to death; bereavement; child; home care services; hospice care; neoplasms/nursing/psychology; pain/therapy; palliative care; terminal care; truth disclosure