Sapporo Spring 2025 Newsletter

Author: Dr. Kunihiko Ishitani President of The International Research Society of the Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer  President, Higashi Sapporo Hospital, Japan Introduction For our Spring Newsletter (for full newsletter, see link below) I have been reflecting on immunotherapy and its relation to palliative care. The recent remarkable advances in cancer […]

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How 20 minutes of mindful breathing can rapidly reduce intensity of cancer pain

News:  Malaysian study reveals that 20 minutes of mindful breathing can rapidly reduce intensity of cancer pain It complements traditional pain relief and broadens repertoire of options, says a team of  Malaysian researchers in our main journal   Twenty minutes of mindful breathing, which focuses a person’s attention on their breath, can rapidly reduce the […]

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Assisted Dying in Germany- Munich study raises concerns

Author: Mark Taubert, NHS Consultant and Professor of Palliative Medicine, Cardiff, UK It can be a challenge finding data on assisted dying and euthanasia in jurisdictions where it is legal. In some areas the data is not made available, elsewhere not much is recorded or observed beyond patient demographics. Finding detail on complication rates and […]

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The Big Conversation: Future Care Planning

Dr Aoife Gleeson, Palliative Care Consultant, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABHUB), Newport, UK   Aoife.Gleeson@wales.nhs.uk Dr Michael Pynn, Consultant Respiratory Physician, ABUHB, UK  Dr Abigail Townsend, Resident Doctor Core Training 1, ABUHB, UK   ‘The Big Conversation: Future Care Planning’ was a public event organised by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB), held on 20th […]

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Autumn Newsletter of the International Research Society Sapporo, Japan

by Dr. Kunihiko Ishitani President of The International Research Society of the SCPSC and President, Higashi Sapporo Hospital   Announcement regarding the 5th Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer Toward a New Era in Palliative Care in Cancer The Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer (SCPSC), regarded as the […]

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SEECare & a Sea Change?- How NHS Hospitals care for you when you’re dying

Author: Dr Simon Tavabie, Transforming End of Life Care Fellow @UCLH & Palliative Care Doctor (on behalf of the authors of the SEECareUK study)   Dr Tavabie summarises the findings from the recently published Seeking Excellence in End-of-Life Care UK (SEECareUK) study   It’s a Saturday morning at your local District General Hospital and sadly, […]

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BMJ SPC Editor-in-chief receives Supportive Oncology Award

– NEWS – Prof Declan Walsh, editor-in-chief of BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, has received the Walther Cancer Foundation Endowed Supportive Oncology Award at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting in June. The award goes to distinguished leaders who have contributed significantly to palliative and supportive oncology care.   Prof Walsh said: “It is an honour […]

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New ruling on care of dying in India will force some to live life “of machine-related suffering”

-NEWS-  India: Progressive step, but ruling still has important shortcomings & missed opportunities, say specialists   The newly revised ruling on advance medical directives and withholding/withdrawing medical support for the dying in India will inevitably force some terminally ill patients to “live a life of machine-related suffering” and deprive them of their autonomy and dignity […]

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