Symptom Burden
A landmark paper in pediatric palliative care described the significant presence of symptoms and suffering at the EOL. This study also found that parents were more likely than physicians to report the presence of these physical symptoms. Death from a brain tumor is usually an expected event, yet the multitude of symptoms and care needs can be overwhelming for the patient and family. As end-of-life approaches, suffering becomes more severe and neuro-oncology teams are called upon to manage complex palliative pain and symptoms.