The incidence of cancer is rising in pediatric population
since last decade. In 2016, about 10,000 children are projected to be diagnosed
of cancer in United States.
Though five-year survival in most of the pediatric cancer patients
is more than 80% now, cancer remains the most common cause of mortality after
trauma in age group 5-14 years. The growing population of pediatric
cancer survivors warrants parallel rise in the palliative care.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO) palliative care
is, ‘An approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their
families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through
the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and
impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical,
psychosocial and spiritual’.
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