Geriatric Oncology, Spirituality, and Palliative Care

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Lodovico Balducci

Abstract

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality for older individuals. Palliative care is essential to improve the outcome of cancer treatment in terms of quality of life and treatment satisfaction. This review examines the influence of spirituality on aging in general and on the management of older cancer patients. A spiritual perspective has been associated with successful aging, and with better tolerance of physical and emotional stress, including the ability to cope with serious diseases and with isolation. It has also been associated with decreased risk of suicide and depression. Gerotranscendence, the more urgent search for meaning by older than younger individuals, confirms the importance of spirituality in this phase of life. Spirituality has also improved the quality of life and reduced the risk of disease and death for the patient's caregiver. Addressing patient and caregiver spirituality may render the palliative care of cancer more effective and may also aid in detection and management of spiritual pain, which may prevent healing at the end of life.

References

Aug 16, 2003·Gerontology·Margda WaernKatarina Wilhelmson
Jun 28, 2014·Journal of Gerontological Nursing·Barbara J Edlund
Jul 6, 2014·Journal of Aging Studies·Albert J Jewell
Dec 19, 2015·Annals of Oncology : Official Journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology·C I RipamontiM Ferrari
Jan 19, 2016·Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care·Tomas L Griebling
Sep 15, 2016·Journal of Oncology Practice·Allison MagnusonLauren M Hamel
Dec 14, 2016·Clinical Interventions in Aging·Lisa F Carver, Diane Buchanan
Dec 29, 2016·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Jennifer S TemelDavid P Ryan
Feb 22, 2017·The Oncologist·María Vallet-RegíLodovico Balducci
Mar 16, 2017·Quality of Life Research : an International Journal of Quality of Life Aspects of Treatment, Care and Rehabilitation·Jessica K Roydhouse, Ira B Wilson
Sep 16, 2017·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Allison MagnusonSupriya Mohile

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Citations

Nov 26, 2019·The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care·Roberta SpatuzziAnna Vespa
Feb 28, 2020·Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova·G I KopeykoV G Kaleda
Sep 18, 2020·Omega·Frédérique DrillaudBenoît Burucoa
Jun 6, 2020·BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care·Clare C O'CallaghanNatasha Michael
May 30, 2020·Journal of Palliative Care·Katherine M PidermanAminah Jatoi
Nov 12, 2020·Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P·Wanderson Carneiro MoreiraMário Oliveira Lima
Mar 12, 2019·Journal of Pain and Symptom Management·George Handzo, Jill Bowden
Mar 20, 2021·Palliative & Supportive Care·Roberta SpatuzziAnna Vespa
Aug 21, 2021·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Wenwen YangZihan Geng
Jul 10, 2020·Clinical Oncology : a Journal of the Royal College of Radiologists·A O'Donovan, L Morris
Nov 25, 2021·Journal of Palliative Medicine·Claire E KoljackBenzi M Kluger
Jul 7, 2021·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Megan MillerCatherine Cherwin

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