How Palliative Care Shapes Cancer Care Near the End of Life

Palliative care is an important part of cancer care. It helps manage symptoms and improve quality of life. It can be provided at any stage of cancer and can be given alongside cancer treatment. Sometimes, palliative care is called supportive care.

Two studies presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting examined palliative care near the end of life. Researchers looked at who received palliative care and how it affected the type of care patients received. 

Some patients received more intensive care

The first study included 202,802 hospital stays involving people with blood cancers.

Researchers looked at factors such as income, insurance, and race or ethnicity. They grouped patients into low, moderate, or high social risk groups. 

Overall, about 6% of hospital stays involved intensive care near the end of life. This type of care included:

• Mechanical ventilation, which uses a machine to help breathing
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Dialysis, which filters waste from the blood when the kidneys stop working

The use of these treatments increased as social risk increased.

Intensive care was used in:

• 5.1% of low-risk hospital stays
• 6.5% of moderate-risk hospital stays
• 7.9% of high-risk hospital stays

Researchers found that patients with higher social risk were not more likely to receive palliative care. 

The study suggests that palliative care may not reach everyone who could benefit from it. Talking with your doctor early about your goals and treatment options may help you receive supportive care that aligns with your preferences. 

Palliative care changed where cancer care happened

The second study included 1,635 adults with advanced cancer. Researchers looked at care during the last 30 days of life. Among the group, 195 patients received palliative care.

Total healthcare costs were similar between the groups. But the type of care they received was different.

Patients who received palliative care spent less on:

• Hospital stays
• Medical procedures
• Diagnostic tests

They spent more on:

• Home health services
• Hospice care
• Medicines

These findings suggest that palliative care may help shift care from the hospital to the home. For some people, staying at home as much as possible during cancer care is one of their treatment goals. Palliative care may help that goal. 

What these studies show

Both studies highlight the value of palliative care. The first study found that some patients with greater social challenges received more intensive care near the end of life. But they were not more likely to receive palliative care. 

The second study found that palliative care changed how care was delivered. Patients spent less time receiving hospital-based care and more time receiving care at home or through hospice services. 

Palliative and supportive care can provide support at any stage of cancer. It can help with symptoms, treatment decisions, and quality of life. These findings highlight the value of early palliative care and the role it can play in helping people receive care that matches what matters most to them. Talk with your doctor about adding a palliative care specialist to your care team. 

See Patients’ Progress: Research Results News

Sources: 

• Impact of social vulnerability on end-of-life care in hematologic malignancies
• Palliative care involvement at the end of life in advanced cancer.