[Support for cancer caregivers during the palliative, hospice, and bereavement phases: the role of family physicians].

The family caregivers of cancer patients are at an increased risk of physical and mental morbidity. The purpose of this study is to capture the needs of the caregivers before and during the years after the loss of the patient. A survey was conducted among 229 consecutive advanced cancer patients in our family clinic. Seventy percent of the patients died in their homes, the median overall survival was 15.1 months, and the median survival time was 3 months from the beginning of the coordination with oncologists. While 28%of the patients received the best possible supportive care alone and 50%of them were admitted after the cessation of chemotherapy, in 22%of the patients, the coordination with oncologists began during the chemotherapy phase. During times of active cancer treatment, the caregivers were provided with various types of support from the family physicians. In the post-death bereavement phase, 124 caregivers were admitted to our family care clinic. The family physician can play an important role in aiding the caregivers during the palliative, hospice, and bereavement phases.