RATIONALE: Palliative care may help patients with advanced cancer live more comfortably. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying an early intervention palliative care program to see how well it works compared to a standard care program in improving end-of-life care in patients with advanced lung , gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or breast cancer.
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Quality of life as measured by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Palliative care version (FACT-Pal) at baseline, one month, and every three months thereafter
Timeframe: Baseline, one month, every three months
Symptom management as measured by Edmunton Symptom Assessment Scale at baseline, one month, and every three months thereafter
Timeframe: Baseline, one month, every three months
Health care utilization by a chart review of days in hospital, ICU, ER visits at baseline, one month, and every three months thereafter
Timeframe: Baseline, one month, every three months
Correlate preferences for care and care received as measured by After Death Bereaved Family Member Interview with a family member of the deceased
Timeframe: Baseline, one month, every three months