NURSING CARE FOR CANCER PATIENTS IN PALLIATIVE CARE

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer, a chronic and aggressive disease, can cause pain, suffering, and deeply impact patients and their families. Since not all cases are curable, palliative care becomes essential to promote well-being by alleviating patients’ and families’ physical, psychological, and spiritual suffering through a multidisciplinary approach. Nursing plays a fundamental role in this process, providing empathetic and competent support, while also assisting in the re-signification of the patient’s life. Methodology: This was an integrative literature review. The research question was: how can nursing care be provided to cancer patients in palliative care? Data collection was conducted using the Virtual Health Library (BVS) and targeted scientific sources such as the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), the Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), and the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE). The Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) used were: nursing care; palliative care; oncology. Data were collected between August and September 2025. Inclusion criteria comprised full-text articles published in Portuguese or English between 2020 and 2025. Duplicates, experience reports, reviews, conference abstracts, and materials unrelated to the research question or topic were excluded. Descriptors were combined using the Boolean operator AND. The collection involved full reading of articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Extracted data were organized into tables to facilitate visualization and discussion and were compared with existing literature. Results and discussion: Nursing care in oncological palliative care must be comprehensive and humanized, aiming to reduce patients’ physical, emotional, and social suffering. Nurses act in early detection of signs, symptom management, and administration of therapies, ensuring safety and comfort. The Nursing Care Systematization (SAE) allows continuous planning, execution, and evaluation of care in an ethical and personalized manner. Integrated multiprofessional action contributes to comprehensive care plans, promoting quality of life and reducing suffering. The presence of a qualified nurse is essential for evidence-based, sensitive, inclusive, and patient-centered care. Conclusion: Nursing care in oncological palliative care is essential to ensure humanized, comprehensive, and evidence-based care, promoting comfort, dignity, and quality of life for the patient.