Palliative radiation therapy in hospice care

this issue of the American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, radiation therapy is rarely used or even contemplated in the hospice setting. The major drawbacks to this modality of treatment include a significant burden to the patient and family as well as hospice-related financial disincentives. The advent of shortened courses of radiation therapy with resultant patient ease and less cost, as noted by Fine, may cause hospice providers to rethink this option. To this end, we will briefly review the issue of palliative radiation therapy and hospice using the information noted by Fine1 and others.2-4 Radiation therapy (RT) is used for local control of cancer and is based on the number, timing, and radiation doses per session (fractionation schedule). Of note, it has been estimated that approximately one half of all RT is given with palliative intent.2 Common indications for palliative RT include the following: • Pain from bone metastases;