Surgical Palliation at a Cancer Center

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Abstract
CANCER IS the second most common cause of death in the United States. One of every three Americans will be diagnosed with a form of cancer in their lifetime, and more than one third of these patients will die of the disease. Three of four families will have a family member with cancer.1 Cancer care involves many forms of treatment intended for either cure or palliation, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, as well as surgical therapy. Palliative cancer surgery is a consideration for disease-related complications that compromise vital functions and generate symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, nausea, and other symptoms that interfere with function and quality of life (QOL).