Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know about Symptom Assessment in People with Cancer

Symptom assessment is crucial in caring for people with cancer and should be a cornerstone in their care. Symptoms precede imaging modalities in diagnosing cancer and in evaluating efficacy of treatment, as well as being an integral part of the patient's experience with their illness. A comprehensive literature review was conducted when selecting these principles. This article presents ten important principles in symptom assessment chosen for their relevance in optimizing cancer care for patients, increasing the efficacy of shared decision making, and improving patient outcomes. These ten principles should provide a framework for symptom assessment that will optimize cancer care delivery and drive further research in the area.