Palliative care for patients with hematologic malignancies — challenges and perspectives

Palliative care (PC) can improve the quality of life of patients with life-threatening illnesses through symptoms’ management and psychological support. Although well-integrated into solid tumor oncology, PC remains underutilized in hematologic malignancies (HMs). Patients with HMs often receive aggressive treatment near the end of life (EOL) and have lower rates of hospice referral. This study explores the challenges of integrating palliative care into hematology, focusing on patient needs, barriers to implementation, and strategies for improvement. A literature review was conducted to analyze the needs of patients with HMs, barriers to integration of palliative care, and potential solutions. Patients with HMs have complex physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and informational needs. Barriers to PC implementation include unpredictable disease trajectories, limited clinician awareness, system-related obstacles, and restricted access to transfusions and antimicrobial therapy in hospice care. Overcoming these challenges requires structured guidelines, interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhanced clinical training. Innovative approaches such as structured communication frameworks can facilitate early PC integration. Despite growing recognition of PC’s benefits, significant gaps remain in hematology. Developing disease-specific integration strategies, improving clinician education, and expanding access to palliative interventions are crucial for enhancing patient outcomes. Addressing these challenges can ensure that patients with HMs receive comprehensive and compassionate care tailored to their unique needs.