Principles of palliative therapy in the care of patients with metastatic breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is the main cause of death from cancer in the female population in all regions of Brazil,
except in the North, where cervical cancer occupies this position. The breast cancer mortality rate, adjusted
for world population, was 14.23 deaths/100,000 women in 2019, with the highest rates in the Southeast and
South regions, with 16.14 and 15.08 deaths/100,000 women, respectively . Considering the increase in the
number of cancer cases - especially breast cancer - some of them in an advanced stage and with no
possibility of cure, that is, metastatic, the need and importance of palliative care (PC) that aim at comfort
and end-of-life management of cancer patients.