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Purpose: Peak fertility commonly occurs during medical training, and delaying parenthood can complicate pregnancies. Trainee parental leave policies are varied and lack transparency. Research on the impacts of parenthood on trainee education is limited. Methods: A Qualtrics-based survey was distributed via e-mail/social media to program directors (PDs) within oncologic specialties with a request to forward a parallel survey to trainees. Questions assessed awareness of parental leave policies, supportiveness of parenthood, and impacts on trainee education. Statistical analyses included descriptive frequencies and bivariable comparisons by key groups. Results: A total of 195 PDs and 286 trainees responded. Twelve percent and 29% of PDs were unsure of maternity/paternity leave options, respectively. PDs felt they were more supportive of trainee parenthood than trainees perceived they were. Thirty-nine percent of nonparent trainees (NPTs) would have children already if not in medicine, and >80% of women trainees were concerned about declining fertility. Perceived impacts of parenthood on trainee overall education and academic productivity were more negative for women trainees when rated by PDs and NPTs; however, men/women parents self-reported equal impacts. Leave burden was perceived as higher for women trainees. Conclusions: A significant portion of PDs lack awareness of parental leave policies, highlighting needs for increased transparency. Trainees' perception of PD support for parenthood is less than PD self-reported support. Alongside significant rates of delayed parenthood and fertility concerns, this poses a problem for trainees seeking to start a family, particularly women who are perceived more negatively. Further work is needed to create a supportive culture for trainee parenthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As palliative care (PC) moves upstream in the course of advanced illness, it is critical that PC providers have a broad understanding of curative and palliative treatments for serious diseases. Possessing a working knowledge of radiation therapy (RT), one of the three pillars of cancer care, is crucial to PC providers given RT's role in both the curative and palliative settings. This article provides PC providers with a primer on the vocabulary of RT; the team of people involved in the planning of RT; and common indications, benefits and side effects of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses bleeding management in terminally ill patients in the hospice care settings. Also cited are the general considerations of bleeding as a common symptom in palliative care, the initial steps in managing bleeding like the use of appropriate gauze or dressing, as well as the systemic treatments like platelet, fresh frozen plasma, and clotting factor concentrate transfusions, and the prescription of vitamin K supplements.

The article offers guidance for the use of single-fraction radiation treatment for painful bone metastases. Topics discussed include how the treatment offers quicker analgesia and lower patient burden in time, cost, and inconvenience than longer radiation schedules; a study showing treatment radiation courses were well tolerated and associated with rapid pain relief in pediatric patients; and randomized clinical trials and 4 meta-analyses.