![](\"http:\/\/sciencemediacentre.ca\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/canada_flag_icon_small.gif\"){kind=icon}
"},"content":{"rendered":"Canadians with cancer and their caregivers, associate \u201cpalliative care\u201d with impending death, and consequently are not taking advantage of the benefits \u00a0early palliative care can bring to a patients\u2019 quality of life, according to the authors of a new study. Originally, in the 1960s, palliative care referred to end-of-life care, mainly for cancer patients. The new definition is much broader and international agencies such as the World Health Organization recommend it be applied earlier in a patient\u2019s treatment, in conjunction with other therapies designed to treat the patient. The Authors call for more education to help raise awareness of the benefits to early palliative care and even a change of name to reduce the stigma associated with this type of treatment.<\/span><\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n Authors:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Camilla Zimmermann MD PhD, Nadia Swami BSc, Monika Krzyzanowska MD MPH,\u00a0Natasha Leighl MD MMSc, Anne Rydall MSc, Gary Rodin MD, Ian Tannock MD PhD, Breffni Hannon MB Ch<\/span><\/p>\n Corresponding Author:<\/strong><\/span> Camilla Zimmerman, head of Palliative Care for the University Health Network and Medical Director of the Harold and Shirley Lederman Palliative Care Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada. She is also a Scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, and holds the Rose Family Chair in Supportive Care in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto<\/p>\n Original research paper<\/a> published<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>April 18th, 2016 in CMAJ<\/p>\n