Learning Labs - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States.  A founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and a designated comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute provides expert, compassionate care to children and adults with cancer while advancing the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer and related diseases.  The Institute employs about 4,000 people supporting more than 200,000 patient visits a year, is involved in some 600 clinical trials, and is internationally renowned for its blending of research and clinical excellence.

Since 1997, the Pediatric Advanced Care Team (PACT) has provided palliative care for children treated at Children's Hospital Boston and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  Treatments are intended to optimize the quality of life and promote healing and comfort for children with life-threatening illness.  The PACT team—two doctors, a nurse, a social worker and a coordinator—consults with patients, families and the primary care team to bring together the information and guidance needed to make the right treatment choices for a child.  Some of the support they provide includes optimizing pain and symptom management, advocating family and health care provider communication, and coordinating inpatient, outpatient and home care.

The Pain and Palliative Care service at Brigham and Women's Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (BWH/DFCI) has been providing Palliative Care services since 2001. The consultation service sees outpatients at DFCI and inpatients at BWH who have cancer or an advanced life-limiting disease other than cancer. Since 2007, the service also has had primary responsibility for cancer patients admitted to our Intensive Palliative Care Unit team at BWH.  The majority of consults are done for patients with cancer who often require complex symptom management during all phases of illness, from diagnosis to death.  Simultaneous attention is given to these patients' and family members' challenging psychosocial and spiritual concerns.  Many of the consults focus on goals of care, comfort for patients at the end of life, and providing support for the medical and nursing teams caring for these patients and their families. The Pain and Palliative Care Service has a close relationship with the Partners’ Hospice, and many of the team’s patients are discharged to their care.

Please visit us at (www.dana-farber.org)