Vancouver – Of the many forms of human suffering – pain, debilitation, delirium, fatigue, depression and wounds – cancer can be the cause. Perhaps it is therefore appropriate that the first national conference on palliative care is being held at the BC Cancer Agency from November 7 to 9.

The National Palliative Care Basic Science Workshop is drawing oncology and palliative care clinicians and basic science researchers from across Canada to discuss causes of suffering and strategies for controlling pain and symptoms of disease.

Clinical research in palliative care is rarely presented at conferences and basic science research in the field is almost non-existent. Participants aim to change that. By the end of the workshop, they hope to do the following:

• identify opportunities for basic science research in symptom management;
• recommend future directions for research; and
• encourage new, cooperative efforts between clinicians and researchers

“This area of research has not received a lot of attention from basic scientists,” says Dr. Victor Ling, vice-president of Research at the BC Cancer Agency. Ling says the purpose of the workshop is to “draw attention to the important questions that need to be answered to improve cancer care.”

Dr. Michael McKenzie, a radiation oncologist at the BC Cancer Agency is chair of the conference’s planning committee. He says current treatments allow cancer specialists to cure half of all cancer patients. “Research into pain and symptom control will benefit all cancer patients,” McKenzie says, “but it is especially important for patients we cannot yet cure.”

The BC Cancer Agency recently worked with health professionals across B.C. to establish a provincial Palliative Care Network (PCN). The PCN’s first report called for a national conference.

The national workshop is part of the Terry Fox Cancer Research Workshop series, supported by the National Cancer Institute of Canada and the Terry Fox Run.

The BC Cancer Agency has a mandate to provide a comprehensive cancer control program for B.C. It works with community partners to deliver a wide range of oncology services to patients throughout the province, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care.

Contact: Dr. Michael McKenzie (604) 877-6000 ex 2380.