Here, we summarise the event and publish the concluding statements of the 5th Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer which was held in Sapporo, Japan in July 2026. The full summer newsletter can be found here Held once every three years, the conference has earned a reputation as the “Olympics […]
Category: News
From our own correspondent – I fail to capture the Castle – Prague revisited
Author: Professor Ollie Minton, Palliative Medicine Consultant, Brighton, UK Professor Minton finds himself in Prague, where the 20th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care took place between 14-16th May 2026. Warning: Readers may wish to note a reading time of circa 10 minutes, time they will not get back. There are no […]
Spring Newsletter from the Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer
Author: Dr. Kunihiko Ishitani President of The International Research Society of the Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer (SCPSC) President, Higashi Sapporo Hospital, Japan Our Spring newsletter is out and can be accessed here Introduction The 5th Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer (SCPSC) will be held this […]
Clinical leadership for modern palliative care: Symposium at Palliative Care Congress, Brighton 2026
Authors Dr Sarah Mitchell, Clinical Associate Professor of Palliative Care, University of Leeds Dr Suzanne Kite, President, Association for Palliative Medicine, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust Dr Debbie Talbot, Consultant in Palliative Medicine and NHSE Midlands Regional Clinical lead for PC&EOLC, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS FT and NHSE Midlands Charlotte Rock, Chief […]
Winter Newsletter from the Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer
Author: Dr. Kunihiko Ishitani President of The International Research Society of the Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer (SCPSC) President, Higashi Sapporo Hospital, Japan Our Winter newsletter is out and can be accessed here Introduction Can the concept of “human dignity” become a future episteme in cancer palliative care? Michel Foucault […]
Death of the Kessler twins raises ethical questions in Germany
by Prof Mark Taubert, Consultant in Palliative Medicine and Vice-President of the European Association for Palliative Care Alice and Ellen Kessler, the 1960s pop stars, have died by joint suicide at the age of 89. The identical twins chose to have a joint assisted death at their home in Grünwald, close to Munich, in […]
Autumn 2025 Newsletter from the Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer
Author: Dr. Kunihiko Ishitani President of The International Research Society of the Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer (SCPSC) President, Higashi Sapporo Hospital, Japan Our Autumn 2025 newsletter is out and can be accessed here. Embracing the Active Role of Pathologists in Cancer Palliative Care There is much to be said for […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]