Literature Review

[China] Progress in research on alleviating the symptoms associated with advanced cancer using Traditional Chinese MedicinePain Research & Management; by Chunmeng Jiao, Ting Zhang, Yachen Yang, Ruofan Zhang, Wenbo Liu, Yanqing Wang, Lei Huang; 1/26Advanced cancer continues to pose a substantial global challenge, with complex symptom burdens and limited therapeutic options. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), grounded in holistic theory and the principles of syndrome differentiation, employs interventions such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and acupoint‐based therapies to address both the malignancy and the patient’s overall functional status. Emerging evidence indicates that TCM may alleviate symptom clusters associated with advanced cancer, enhance quality of life, and potentially contribute to improved survival outcomes. This review synthesizes findings from the past decade on the role of TCM in advanced cancer care, with a focus on herbal decoctions, Chinese herbal injections, acupuncture—either alone or in combination with herbal therapy—moxibustion with adjuvant medication, and other external TCM modalities. Evidence is examined regarding their effects on cancer‐related pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal dysfunction, chemotherapy‐ and radiotherapy‐induced toxicities, and immune modulation.

[Republic of Korea] P-1080. Multidrug-resistant organism status and its association with hospice use and end-of-life care patterns in patients with advanced cancer referred palliative careOpen Forum Infectious Diseases; by Jeong-Han Kim, Jiwon Yu, Ye Sul Jeung, Shin Hye Yoo, Jin-ah Sim, Bhumsuk Keam; 1/26Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) are increasingly prevalent and may contribute to more aggressive healthcare utilization near the end-of-life, particularly among patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care (PC). MDRO status was associated with significantly lower use of community-based hospice care, including inpatient hospice ... and home hospice ... It was also linked to more frequent deaths in tertiary hospitals ... and higher intensive care unit admissions ... and renal replacement therapy ... Medical costs were consistently higher in the MDRO group across all end-of-life trajectory before death.

A scoping review on aphasia and technology: Exploring mechanisms enhancing quality of lifeQuality of Life Research; by Grace E. Terry, Cassondra Wilson, Gillian Anderson, Stacy M. Harnish; 1/26 People with aphasia are at an increased risk for reduced quality of life (QoL) because of their change in communication abilities. The present study aims to review the current evidence supporting assistive technology as a tool to improve QoL for people with aphasia, while investigating the various mechanisms technology may impact that lead to increased QoL for people with aphasia. This review emphasizes the role mechanisms such as self-management, social interaction, and virtual communication play in improving QoL for people with aphasia, while emphasizing the role technology plays in impacting the function of these mechanisms.  However, for this assistive technology to be impactful, it must be person centered and thoroughly trained based on the current body of evidence.

Many patients with advanced blood cancers delay hospice to keep access to blood transfusionManaged Healthcare Executive; by Briana Contreras; 2/4/26Key Takeaways:

[Worldwide] End-of-life care statistics by care, conditions and illness (2026) Market.us Media; by Samruddhi Yardi; 2/2/26 Each year, an estimated 56.8 million people, including 25.7 million in the last year of life, are in need of palliative care. Worldwide, only about 14% of people who need palliative care currently receive it. ... As society continues to grapple with evolving views on life and death, the commitment to compassionate, personalized, and respectful end-of-life care remains paramount. Embracing this philosophy ensures that every individual is allowed a dignified and meaningful conclusion to their life’s journey.

Drivers of disease-specific end-of-life disparities Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 1/30/26 ... Racial and ethnic disparities persist among underserved patient populations with dementia, who have a stronger likelihood of dying without awareness or access to hospice, recent research has found. Clinicians may play a vital role in moving the needle forward. Nearly 260, 000 Black, Hispanic and white Medicare decedents with dementia-related conditions were recently examined in a new study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Health Forum.  Editor's Note: We posted this study in our Saturday Research newsletter, 12/27/25, End-of-life care for older adults with dementia by race and ethnicity and physicians’ role. This article gives more practical descriptions and applications for its results.

Integrating psychiatric and hospice services: Legal and clinical considerations for involuntary commitment in multimorbid end-of-life care American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Ilana Marmershteyn, BS, Darian Peters, BS, Victor Milev, BS, Mario Jacomino, MD, MPH, and George Luck, MD, FAAHPM; 1/28/26  Multimorbid patients at the end-of-life face complex medical, psychosocial, and psychiatric challenges. Hospice care aims to address physical, emotional, and spiritual needs; however, psychiatric comorbidities, particularly acute crises, remain under-recognized and inconsistently managed. The intersection of psychiatric intervention, hospice care, and legal frameworks such as involuntary commitment presents significant clinical and ethical challenges.

Stroke survivors in DFW find new hope with Sovereign Hospice Home Care Holliston Town News, Aubrey, TX; by Sovereign Hospice; 1/26/26 Stroke survivors and their families often encounter unexpected challenges ... Sovereign Hospice in Aubrey, Texas, addresses these complex needs through targeted palliative care programs designed specifically for post-stroke complications. ... Post-stroke pain affects approximately 30% of survivors, manifesting as headaches, muscle spasticity, or neuropathic sensations. Fatigue represents another common issue, with many patients reporting exhaustion after minimal activity. Depression occurs in roughly one-third of stroke survivors, creating additional barriers to recovery. 

Husband with Parkinson's was admitted into at-home hospice program and has dramatically improved. Have others experienced this? Aging Care; by Klwolf; 1/21/26 My DH has Parkinson’s that has been getting progressively worse for months. In early December we had him assessed for hospice and he was admitted. Since then, he’s improved dramatically. Has anyone else experienced dramatic improvement AFTER hospice enrollment? The hospice staff simply shrugs and says this sometimes happens and that we need to be prepared for him to revert back to his previous state. Editor's Note: Many clinicians have seen individuals improve after hospice enrollment, often due to better symptom control, reduced stress, or consistent interdisciplinary care. The concern here is not the improvement itself, but the hospice team’s reported response. A shrug can feel dismissive to families already living with uncertainty. How do we teach teams to communicate about improvement—honoring hope while preparing families with clarity, compassion, and trust?

Palliative care in pediatric phase I oncology trials: A scoping reviewPediatric Blood & Cancer; by Andrea Cuviello, Harisankeerth Mummareddy, Alanis N. Gomez Martinez, Holly Spraker-Perlman, Allison Uber, Jordan Wrigley, Erica C. Kaye; 12/25Clinical trials, particularly Phase I trials that test drug safety and feasibility, are imperative to advance outcomes for children with cancer. These trials, however, pose risks for increased symptom burden and suffering. Early integration of palliative care (PC) during Phase I trial enrollment offers a potential reduction in suffering and improvement in quality of life.  PC integration was associated with earlier hospice enrollment, increased home and hospice deaths, decreased hospitalizations and intensive care unit utilization, improved care coordination, and better symptom management. 

Expanding the boundaries of palliative care: Diseases of the nervous system and survival prognosis in home-based programsAmerican Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine; by Mônica Isaura Corrêa, Igor de Oliveira Claber Siqueira, Sonia  Souza, Eduardo Bruera, Ana Paula Drummond-Lage; 12/25Home-based palliative care (HBPC) is increasingly recognized as an essential strategy for managing patients with non-oncologic and life-limiting conditions. However, prognostic factors influencing survival in this population remain underexplored. Diseases of the nervous system (DNS) were the most frequent referral diagnoses [in this study] (32.3%). Patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias demonstrated longer survival than those with other DNS or no DNS diagnoses ... While PPS [Palliative Performance Scale] remains a useful tool, its discriminatory capacity was modest, underscoring the need for refined prognostic models in non-oncologic palliative care.