Compassionate palliative care symbolized by glowing light and supportive hands around a cancer patient.

Easing the Journey: How Integrated Palliative Care Can Transform Cancer Treatment

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how integrating palliative care early in cancer treatment can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce end-of-life hospitalizations."

The end of life can be a challenging time, especially for individuals battling cancer. High hospital utilization during this period often indicates a less-than-ideal quality of care. Recognizing this, healthcare professionals are increasingly focusing on integrated palliative care plans to improve the experience for cancer patients and their families.

Palliative care aims to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for patients and their families facing serious illness. Unlike curative treatments, palliative care focuses on providing comfort, managing symptoms, and offering emotional and psychological support. When integrated early into cancer treatment, it can lead to more patient-centered care and better outcomes.

A recent study delved into the impact of different intensities of Integrated Cancer Palliative Care (ICPC) plans on end-of-life acute medical hospitalizations among cancer patients in Northern Italy. The findings offer valuable insights into how these plans can significantly reduce hospital stays and improve the overall quality of end-of-life care.

The Impact of Integrated Cancer Palliative Care (ICPC) Plans

Compassionate palliative care symbolized by glowing light and supportive hands around a cancer patient.

Researchers investigated data from cancer patients aged 18-84 years in two Italian regions, examining the effect of ICPC plans on outcomes such as prolonged hospital stays, frequent hospitalizations in the last month of life, and hospital deaths. The ICPC plans, initiated 90 to 31 days before death, were the primary focus.

The study revealed that among 6,698 patients included in ICPC plans, a significant percentage experienced at least one critical outcome indicator: 44.3% presented at least one critical outcome indicator; among these, 76.5% died in hospital, 60.3% had a prolonged (12+ days) medical hospitalisation, 19.1% had 2+ hospitalisations at the EOL. However, the intensity of the ICPC plans had a notable impact on these outcomes.

Reduced Hospitalizations: Outcomes showed a strong dose-response effect, indicating that more intense ICPC plans led to fewer prolonged hospital stays and fewer instances of multiple hospitalizations near the end of life.
Lower Hospital Death Rates: Patients receiving more intensive palliative care were less likely to die in the hospital.
Early Intervention Matters: The benefits of ICPC plans were evident even at moderate levels of intensity, suggesting that early intervention is key to improving end-of-life care.

These findings emphasize the importance of a well-structured ICPC approach, starting even at low levels of care intensity, to reduce the percentage of patients spending extended periods in the hospital or dying in a hospital setting. This highlights the potential for early and consistent palliative care to significantly improve the end-of-life experience for cancer patients.

Moving Forward: Enhancing Palliative Care for Cancer Patients

In conclusion, integrating palliative care early and consistently into cancer treatment can significantly improve the quality of life for patients and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations at the end of life. By focusing on patient-centered care and addressing symptoms and emotional needs, healthcare providers can ease the journey for individuals and families facing cancer.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1111/ecc.12742, Alternate LINK

Title: Intensity Of Integrated Cancer Palliative Care Plans And End-Of-Life Acute Medical Hospitalisation Among Cancer Patient In Northern Italy

Subject: Oncology

Journal: European Journal of Cancer Care

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Michele Pellizzari, Maria Rolfini, Eliana Ferroni, Valentina Savioli, Nicola Gennaro, Elena Schievano, Francesco Avossa, Elisabetta Pinato, Maria Cristina Ghiotto, Franco Figoli, Domenico Mantoan, Antonio Brambilla, Ugo Fedeli, Mario Saugo

Published: 2017-08-15

Everything You Need To Know

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care focuses on providing comfort, managing symptoms, and offering emotional and psychological support for patients and their families facing serious illnesses like cancer. It differs from curative treatments, which aim to eliminate the disease. Integrated Palliative Care plans aim to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients and reduce the need for frequent or prolonged hospital stays during the end-of-life phase.

Why are Integrated Cancer Palliative Care (ICPC) plans important?

Integrated Cancer Palliative Care (ICPC) plans are important because they significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden on the healthcare system. By integrating palliative care early in cancer treatment, healthcare providers can reduce the likelihood of prolonged hospital stays, multiple hospitalizations near the end of life, and hospital deaths. These plans emphasize patient-centered care, addressing both the physical and emotional needs of individuals and families navigating the challenges of cancer.

What were the key findings of the study regarding Integrated Cancer Palliative Care (ICPC) plans?

The study found that more intensive Integrated Cancer Palliative Care (ICPC) plans led to fewer prolonged hospital stays and fewer instances of multiple hospitalizations near the end of life. Patients receiving more intensive palliative care were also less likely to die in the hospital. Even at moderate levels of care intensity, ICPC plans showed benefits, suggesting that early intervention is key to improving end-of-life care for cancer patients.

What is the significance of Integrated Cancer Palliative Care (ICPC) for cancer patients?

The findings of the study highlight the importance of a well-structured Integrated Cancer Palliative Care (ICPC) approach. Early and consistent palliative care can significantly improve the quality of life for cancer patients by reducing the percentage of patients spending extended periods in the hospital or dying in a hospital setting. This patient-centered approach addresses symptoms and emotional needs, thereby easing the journey for individuals and families facing cancer.

How does enrolling in an Integrated Cancer Palliative Care (ICPC) plan affect patient outcomes?

If a patient is enrolled in an Integrated Cancer Palliative Care (ICPC) plan, there is a significant reduction in the critical outcome indicators. The study showed that the intensity of the ICPC plan plays a critical role in determining the outcomes. With more intensive plans, patients experienced fewer prolonged hospital stays, fewer instances of multiple hospitalizations near the end of life, and a lower likelihood of dying in the hospital.