Deep learning for automatic segmentation of the inferior alveolar nerve using a hybrid CNN-transformer framework.

Cancer is a potential threat to life. In Iran, cancer is the third leading cause of death. Globally, an estimated 9.7 million cancer deaths occurred in 2022, representing the approximate annual burden of terminal-stage disease. Patients with advanced cancer face enormous physical, psychological, and socio-economic challenges that diminish their quality of life. In response to these multifaceted challenges, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced PC with the aim of managing symptoms, reducing the side effects of treatment, and improving the quality of life of patients with life-threatening diseases such as cancer. PC services should be provided in the early stages of the disease in the first 8 weeks after the onset of the disease and integrated with standard oncology care. PC is considered a multidisciplinary specialty that improves the quality of life of patients with life-threatening diseases such as cancer and their families. This is accomplished through the relief of suffering following the identification of the situation; correct assessment, and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial or spiritual problems. PC should start from the initial diagnosis of a serious disease and should be provided simultaneously with the specific treatment of the disease until symptom relief or death. Timely access to PC may improve symptoms, reduce hospital admission and treatment costs, increase patient and family satisfaction, improve quality of life, reduce invasive cancer treatments, and increase survival. Despite this growing need for PC services, evidence repeatedly shows that patients’ access to PC during the course of the disease is delayed. To design effective interventions that promote the timely of PC among the public, we need a better understanding of access barriers. The development of PC depends not only on government support and professional cooperation but also critically on the knowledge and attitudes of the public.