What is Supportive Oncology?

“Supportive oncology” care is cancer care that addresses all aspects of cancer and its impact on the patient, rather than just focusing on the disease itself.  Thus, supportive care encompasses symptom management, psychosocial support, and interventions to optimize the patient’s quality of life. Supportive care is provided to the patient, and sometimes to the family and/or caregivers, alongside the patient’s regular medical or surgical treatment and is usually woven seamlessly into the patient’s overall treatment plan. 

The underlying goals of supportive care are to alleviate suffering associated with both the cancer itself and the treatment’s side effects, and to sustain the individual’s quality of life.