Hospice and palliative care are health care services created during the past 40 years to meet the needs of patients living with serious illness, including cancer, and their families. Delivered by teams of interdisciplinary health professionals, these services improve the quality of life and care of patients. This lecture will discuss the development of palliative care and hospice, the components of these services and their outcomes for patients and families and the careers available to health care professionals dedicated to serving patients with cancers of all ages.