Of the leading cancers in Taiwan, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks fifth and second respectively in terms of incidence and mortality. Based on the Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system, severity of HCC begins with stage 0, followed by stages A to D. Patients with HCC at different stages therefore suffer from a variety of symptoms that require corresponding adjustments in treatment. For patients, this can bring uncertainty and unpredictable side effects, inflicting on them tremendous physical, mental, and spiritual agony.
Both physical and mental symptoms are common in late-stage HCC patients. Thus, the intervention of hospice and palliative care would help determine future medical plans to address different symptoms in the patients. This article introduces a cooperative model integrating late-stage HCC treatment and hospice and palliative care that incorporates shared decision making, advanced care planning, and hospice in cancer care. Different types of medical models play different roles in palliative and hospice care. Cross-disciplinary integration is essential in helping meet the needs of late-stage HCC patients and promote their end-of-life quality.