Augmented Package of Palliative Care for Women With Cervical Cancer: Responding to Refractory Suffering.

The essential package of palliative care for cervical cancer (EPPCCC), described elsewhere, is designed to be safe and effective for preventing and relieving most suffering associated with cervical cancer and universally accessible. However, it appears that women with cervical cancer, more frequently than patients with other cancers, experience various types of suffering that are refractory to basic palliative care such as what can be provided with the EPPCCC. In particular, relief of refractory pain, vomiting because of bowel obstruction, bleeding, and psychosocial suffering may require additional expertise, medicines, or equipment. Therefore, we convened a group of experienced experts in all aspects of care for women with cervical cancer, and from countries of all income levels, to create an augmented package of palliative care for cervical cancer with which even suffering refractory to the EPPCCC often can be relieved. The package consists of medicines, radiotherapy, surgical procedures, and psycho-oncologic therapies that require advanced or specialized training. Each item in this package should be made accessible whenever the necessary resources and expertise are available.
Competing Interests: Eric L. KrakauerEmployment: (I) My wife is employed by Inform Diagnostics and Foundation Medicine Xiaoxiao KweteEmployment: Yaozhi Co LtdStock and Other Ownership Interests: Expat IncResearch Funding: RochePatents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: My husband Patrick Kwete has a granted patent called “Personalized Medical Treatment Provision Software” (https://patents.google.com/patent/US20130080425A1/en)Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Expat Inc Shekinah N. ElmoreStock and Other Ownership Interests: TeladocConsulting or Advisory Role: Best Doctors Inc, Wildtype Annette HasenburgHonoraria: AstraZeneca, Med Update, Pfizer, Roche, Streamedup!, Tesaro, MedConcept, LEO PharmaConsulting or Advisory Role: PharmaMar, Tesaro, Roche, AstraZeneca, LEO Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline/MSDTravel, Accommodations, Expenses: AstraZeneca, MedConcept, Roche, Streamedup!, Tesaro, MedUpdate, Pfizer Mihir KamdarLeadership: Amorsa TherapeuticsStock and Other Ownership Interests: Amorsa TherapeuticsConsulting or Advisory Role: Medtronic, Fern Health Cristiana SessaConsulting or Advisory Role: Basilea Ted TrimbleConsulting or Advisory Role: Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Inovio PharmaceuticalsResearch Funding: Frantz Viral TherapeuticsNo other potential conflicts of interest were reported.