About the Speakers: 

Janet L. Abrahm, M.D. is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is both a former practicing oncologist and an expert in the palliative care needs of patients with cancer. She has over 20 years’ experience in the forefront of palliative care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She created the first Palliative Care service at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital in 2001. She has over 150 publications, most in palliative care. She is the author of four comprehensive books on supportive and palliative care for patients with cancer and cancer pain management, and she is an award-winning clinician and educator in palliative care.

Richard E Leiter, MD, MA (Moderator) is an attending physician on the adult inpatient palliative care consult service at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. Leiter assists patients with serious illness with symptom management, coping, and medical decision-making. He is also a research fellow in the Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, where his work is focused on the international patient population with cancer seen at Dana-Farber. Dr. Leiter is also interested in cross-cultural palliative care and the intersection of palliative care and medical ethics.

About the Book:

Leading palliative care experts illustrate how you can improve both communication with cancer patients and their quality of life.

For more than twenty years, this guide has been the go-to resource for busy practicing oncology and palliative care clinicians. This fourth edition, now titled Comprehensive Guide to Supportive and Palliative Care for Patients with Cancer, provides physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and patients and their families with detailed information and advice for alleviating the suffering of cancer patients and their loved ones.

Drawing on the work of experts who have developed revolutionary approaches to symptom management and palliative care, as well as on lessons learned during her decades as a teacher and clinician, Dr. Janet L. Abrahm and her coauthors illustrate how to help patients and families understand their prognosis, communicate their care preferences, and minimize their distress.