Palliative Care at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center | CMCS

Compassionate Symptom Management & Supportive Care at China's Premier Cancer Center

The Department of Palliative Care at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) is one of China's most distinguished palliative care programs, providing expert symptom management, psychological support, and holistic supportive care for patients with advanced cancer and their families. Integrated throughout FUSCC's multidisciplinary cancer care model, the palliative care team works alongside oncologists, surgeons, and other specialists from the time of diagnosis — not only at the end of life — to improve quality of life, manage treatment-related side effects, and support patients and families through every stage of the cancer journey.

For international patients with advanced cancer seeking care in Shanghai, FUSCC's palliative care program ensures that the pursuit of the best possible cancer treatment is always accompanied by the best possible quality of life. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides seamless coordination for international patients requiring palliative care services at FUSCC.

About the Department

FUSCC's palliative care department is a national key clinical specialty operating dedicated palliative care inpatient beds, a comprehensive outpatient palliative care clinic, a pain management service, a psycho-oncology service, a nutrition support team, a rehabilitation medicine liaison service, and a home-based palliative care coordination program. The department's palliative care team includes palliative medicine physicians, oncology nurses with palliative care specialization, clinical psychologists, social workers, nutritionists, physiotherapists, and chaplaincy services.

Faculty members publish regularly in leading palliative care and supportive oncology journals including Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Palliative Medicine, Supportive Care in Cancer, and Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Palliative Care Services

Pain Management

Cancer pain is one of the most common and distressing symptoms experienced by patients with advanced cancer, yet it is highly treatable with expert management. FUSCC's pain management service provides comprehensive assessment and individualized treatment for all types of cancer pain:

• WHO Analgesic Ladder — Systematic stepwise approach from non-opioids to strong opioids; individualized dose titration for optimal pain control with minimal side effects
• Opioid Optimization — Morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, fentanyl, and methadone; extended-release and immediate-release formulations; opioid rotation for inadequate analgesia or intolerable side effects
• Adjuvant Analgesics — Gabapentin and pregabalin for neuropathic pain; corticosteroids for bone pain and inflammatory pain; antidepressants for neuropathic and mixed pain; bisphosphonates and denosumab for bone metastasis pain
• Interventional Pain Procedures — Celiac plexus block for pancreatic and upper abdominal cancer pain; superior hypogastric plexus block for pelvic pain; intrathecal drug delivery (pain pump) for refractory pain; vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty for painful vertebral metastases; nerve blocks and neurolytic procedures
• Bone Metastasis Management — Radiation therapy for painful bone metastases; zoledronic acid and denosumab for skeletal-related event prevention; orthopedic stabilization for impending pathological fractures
• Breakthrough Pain Management — Rapid-onset fentanyl formulations (buccal, sublingual, intranasal) for breakthrough cancer pain

Symptom Management

• Nausea & Vomiting — Antiemetic optimization for chemotherapy-induced, opioid-induced, and disease-related nausea; 5-HT3 antagonists, NK1 antagonists, olanzapine, and metoclopramide; bowel obstruction management
• Dyspnea — Low-dose opioids for breathlessness; anxiolytics; oxygen therapy; pleural effusion drainage; bronchoscopic interventions for airway obstruction
• Fatigue — Systematic assessment and management of reversible causes; exercise therapy; psychostimulants for selected patients; energy conservation strategies
• Anorexia & Cachexia — Nutritional assessment and support; megestrol acetate and corticosteroids for appetite stimulation; parenteral nutrition for selected patients; anamorelin for cancer cachexia
• Constipation — Prophylactic laxatives with opioid initiation; methylnaltrexone and naloxegol for opioid-induced constipation; bowel regimen optimization
• Delirium — Assessment and management of reversible causes; haloperidol and olanzapine for symptomatic management; family support and communication
• Insomnia — CBT-I; pharmacological management; sleep hygiene counseling
• Lymphedema — Complete decongestive therapy (CDT); compression garments; manual lymphatic drainage
• Malignant Wounds — Wound care, odor management, and bleeding control for fungating tumors
• Hypercalcemia of Malignancy — IV hydration, zoledronic acid, and denosumab

Psycho-Oncology & Psychological Support

A cancer diagnosis and its treatment profoundly affect psychological wellbeing. FUSCC's psycho-oncology service provides expert psychological assessment and support for patients and families:

• Psychological Distress Screening — Routine distress thermometer screening; identification of patients requiring psychological intervention
• Adjustment Disorder & Depression — Supportive psychotherapy; CBT; antidepressant therapy; collaborative care with psychiatry
• Anxiety & Fear of Recurrence — CBT; mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR); acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Existential Distress & Meaning-Making — Dignity therapy; meaning-centered psychotherapy; spiritual care
• Communication Support — Breaking bad news; goals of care conversations; advance care planning facilitation
• Family & Caregiver Support — Caregiver burden assessment; family meetings; bereavement support
• Post-Traumatic Growth — Supporting psychological resilience and growth after cancer diagnosis

Nutrition Support

• Nutritional Assessment — Malnutrition screening (NRS-2002, PG-SGA); body composition analysis
• Dietary Counseling — Individualized dietary advice for patients with cancer-related anorexia, dysphagia, mucositis, and other eating difficulties
• Enteral Nutrition — Nasogastric and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube feeding for patients unable to maintain adequate oral intake
• Parenteral Nutrition — Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for patients with bowel obstruction or severe malabsorption
• Immunonutrition — Perioperative immunonutrition for surgical cancer patients

Advance Care Planning & Goals of Care

FUSCC's palliative care team facilitates advance care planning conversations to ensure that patients' values, preferences, and goals are understood and respected throughout their cancer journey:

• Goals of Care Discussions — Structured conversations about treatment goals, prognosis, and preferences for care
• Advance Directives — Documentation of patient preferences for resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and other life-sustaining treatments
• Transition to Comfort-Focused Care — Compassionate transition from disease-directed to comfort-focused care when appropriate; symptom management in the final days of life
• Home-Based Palliative Care — Coordination of home-based symptom management and nursing support for patients wishing to spend time at home
• Hospice Referral — Coordination of inpatient hospice care for patients requiring intensive end-of-life symptom management

Supportive Care for Treatment Side Effects

FUSCC's palliative care team provides expert management of treatment-related side effects throughout active cancer treatment:

• Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) — Duloxetine; gabapentin; physical therapy; dose modification recommendations
• Immune-Related Adverse Events (irAEs) — Collaborative management with medical oncology; corticosteroid protocols; immunosuppressive therapy for severe irAEs
• Radiation-Related Symptoms — Mucositis, radiation dermatitis, radiation proctitis, and radiation pneumonitis management
• Cancer-Related Fatigue — Exercise therapy; psychostimulants; sleep optimization; anemia management
• Hot Flashes & Hormonal Symptoms — For patients on ADT or endocrine therapy; venlafaxine, gabapentin, and non-hormonal interventions

Early Integration of Palliative Care

FUSCC's palliative care model is based on the evidence that early integration of palliative care alongside active cancer treatment — not just at the end of life — improves quality of life, reduces symptom burden, improves patient satisfaction, and may even extend survival. The landmark NEJM study by Temel et al. demonstrated that early palliative care integration in metastatic NSCLC improved quality of life, reduced aggressive end-of-life care, and was associated with longer survival. FUSCC has adopted this model of concurrent palliative care, ensuring that all patients with advanced cancer have access to palliative care support from the time of diagnosis.

Why International Patients Choose FUSCC Palliative Care

• Early Integration Model — Palliative care integrated from diagnosis alongside active treatment, not only at end of life
• Expert Pain Management — Comprehensive pain assessment and treatment including interventional procedures for refractory pain
• Psycho-Oncology Expertise — Dedicated psychological support for patients and families throughout the cancer journey
• Multidisciplinary Team — Physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, nutritionists, and physiotherapists working together
• Cultural Sensitivity — Experience caring for international patients with diverse cultural backgrounds and communication needs
• Cost-Effectiveness — World-class palliative care at significantly lower cost than equivalent care in Western countries

The CMCS Patient Journey

1. Initial Inquiry — Share your cancer diagnosis, current symptoms, treatment history, and palliative care needs with CMCS.
2. Needs Assessment — We work with FUSCC's palliative care team to identify the most appropriate supportive care services based on your symptoms and goals.
3. Specialist Matching — We identify the most appropriate palliative care physician and support team members for your needs.
4. Priority Scheduling — We secure a palliative care consultation with minimal waiting time.
5. Travel & Logistics — Assistance with visa invitation letters, accessible accommodation near FUSCC, and Shanghai airport transfers.
6. On-Site Concierge — Bilingual coordinators accompany you throughout your hospital visits, managing registration, translation, and communication with sensitivity and compassion.
7. Care Coordination — Full coordination of pain management procedures, psychological support sessions, nutritional assessment, and other palliative care services.
8. Post-Visit Follow-Up — Care plan translation, home symptom management guidance, and remote follow-up coordination after you return home.

Book a Consultation

If you or a loved one is seeking expert palliative care and symptom management in Shanghai — whether for pain control, breathlessness, fatigue, psychological support, nutritional support, or advance care planning — CMCS can arrange access to FUSCC's palliative care team.

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