About Supportive Care and Symptom Management

The program supports research in three areas: prevention or treatment of acute or chronic symptoms and morbidities related to cancer, its treatment and caregiving (symptom management research); effects on quality of life from cancer, its treatment and caregiving (quality of life research); and end-of-life psychosocial issues, caregiving and treatment strategies (end-of-life research).

Study interventions are aimed at improving quality of life for patients facing problems related to a life-threatening cancer diagnosis, or at preventing and relieving suffering during cancer therapy by means of early identification, assessment, and treatment for pain and other physical, psychosocial, and spiritual problems.

Through the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), clinical trials are underway to evaluate therapies to prevent or ameliorate a broad range of symptoms and/or toxicities associated with cancer its treatment and caregiving. Other studies funded separately are investigating a range of treatment effects on health-related quality of life and a variety of influences on the end-of-life cancer experience. Topic Areas include:

Topic Areas include:

  • Anorexia
  • Cachexia
  • Cardiotoxicity
  • Caregiver Issues
  • Cognitive Dysfunction
  • Distress/Anxiety/Depression
  • End of Life
  • Fatigue
  • Geriatrics
  • Hot Flashes
  • Lymphedema
  • Medication Adherence
  • Mucositis
  • Multiple Symptoms
  • Musculoskeletal Symptoms
  • Nausea
  • Neuropathy
  • Nutrition
  • Oral Complications
  • Other Supportive Care Issues
  • Pain
  • Palliative Care
  • Pediatrics/Adolescents/Young Adult
  • Physical Functioning
  • Quality of Life
  • Skin Toxicities
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Urinary Complications