Article VIII states that:
Improving patients’ quality of life is a primary objective in the effort against cancer. Both the physical and emotional burdens of cancer can be significant, and often they are compounded by the side effects of treatment. Because clinical outcomes can be affected by the overall state of a patient’s mental and physical well being the preservation of quality of life – including physical, psychological and social functioning – should be a medical as well as a humanitarian priority. It also must be noted that while giant strides have been taken to improve cure rates in the last 20 years, the majority of the world’s cancer patients today do not experience a cure.
When cancer is not curable, important quality of life advantages still can be achieved through optimal anti-cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy) and supportive care, including pain and fatigue management, and end of life palliation.
The parties will pursue the following goals to increase commitment to quality of life issues in the fight against cancer:
- Improvement in the comprehensive care of people with cancer including supportive care and palliation through specific treatment modalities.
- Recognition at the clinical and also at the policy level of the importance of patients’ quality of life, regardless of the stage of the disease and prognosis, and optimal supportive care of cancer patients, particularly in instances in which cure is not achievable.
- Prioritization of quality of life as a key endpoint in the development of new drugs and also in patient care.
- Aggressive, continued development of scientific tools to measure and assess quality of life in the clinical setting.
- Intensive education of healthcare professionals and cancer patients regarding both the need and the opportunity for effective cancer pain control at every stage of disease and treatment. Cancer-related pain profoundly impacts quality of life and is often grossly underestimated and undertreated, even when it can be adequately controlled.
- Pursuit of a better understanding and also a transformation of attitudes regarding death and dying, to ensure that the end of life is accepted as a natural experience that can and should be addressed medically, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually. Optimal medical care of the dying cancer patient must be effective, humane and compassionate.
How have the quality of life issues cancer patients face been addressed?
In many of the developed parts of the world, patients have seen an increase in the quality of life after diagnosis compared to what their quality of life would have been post diagnosis in the year 2000. This is because there are more avenues of support available to patients today. Treatments have become less invasive and more targeted, and there are more options for symptom management. There is also more support in terms of psychological and financial support to help ease the mental and financial burden a cancer diagnosis can bring. Patient Reporter Outcomes, otherwise known as PRO Tools, such as the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life or the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy have been instrumental in assessing and addressing patient’s quality of life.
Palliative care and pain management have also improved. It is implemented much earlier for the comfort of the patient as an attempt to maintain a quality of life for as long as possible, and is much more effective at managing pain and other symptoms.
Arguably the creation of Digital Health Apps and telemedicine has also improved patient quality of life as it has increased accessibility to care, and allowed for things like symptom tracking, medication reminders, etc. that can all help the effectiveness of a treatment plan and address patient concerns. Additionally, rehabilitation and survivorship programs that are designed to rehabilitate and care for patients during treatment and post-treatment with things such as physical therapy, lifestyle recommendations, and the management of long-term effects under regular monitoring have shown to improve the quality of life of patients as well.