Abstract :
Background: Patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often experience significant physical and psychological distress, yet palliative care is frequently introduced late in the disease trajectory. This study evaluated the impact of early palliative care integrated with standard oncologic treatment on quality of life, mood, healthcare utilization, and end-of-life care for these patients. Methods: A prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 325 newly diagnosed metastatic NSCLC patients. Participants were assigned to either early palliative care plus standard oncologic care (n=163) or standard care alone (n=162). Palliative care included monthly visits focusing on symptom management, psychosocial support, and advance care planning. Outcomes were assessed at 12 weeks using validated tools, including the FACT-L for quality of life and the PHQ-9 for depressive symptoms. Healthcare utilization and end-of-life care metrics were analyzed post-mortem. Results: At 12 weeks, the early palliative care group reported significantly improved quality of life (81.0% vs. 58.0%, p3 days before death, p
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