Bereavement: Addressing Challenges Faced by Advanced Cancer Patients,Their Caregivers, and Their Physicians

End-of-life cancer patients and their families typically experience an array of responses that are associated with loss or impending loss. These responses are often labeled as grief, and are considered to be a normal part of the bereavement process. The health care team is responsible for normalizing the grief process and helping the patient and family view death as a natural part of life that can lead to an enhancement of relationships and personal growth. Additionally, the loss or impending death of a patient can be challenging for the physician. Physicians must acknowledge their feelings of grief and loss and pursue healthy venues that promote adaptive processing of the emotions associated with caring for those at the end of life.