J Korean Med Assoc.  2017 Mar;60(3):228-232. 10.5124/jkma.2017.60.3.228.

Current status of the management of cancer patients in Korea

• Choi SK

• KMID: 2374383
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2017.60.3.228

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide and poses a major threat to public health. Cancer incidence and death rates have increased in most countries since 1990. Therefore, the importance of systematic measures within the public health system, such as special hospitals for cancer patients, has been emphasized. Korea has established a 10-year plan to treat cancer patients and has implemented national cancer control policies (the 10-Year Plan for National Cancer Control) over the past 20 years, and these policies have resulted in dramatic breakthroughs in cancer survival. However, by focusing on the visible outcomes of cancer control, these policies have not shown adequate results in terms of building an integrated support system to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors or terminal cancer patients. In the future, the government should strive to build a comprehensive cancer management system that incorporates multipurpose integrated support measures, such as multidisciplinary, palliative, and hospice care.

Keyword

Cancer care facilities; Quality of life; Multidisciplinary care; Hospice care; Palliative care

MeSH Terms

Cancer Care Facilities
Hospice Care
Hospitals, Special
Humans
Incidence
Korea*
Mortality
Palliative Care
Public Health
Quality of Life
Survivors

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