History
The Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPO Lisboa) was founded in 1923 as the first comprehensive cancer centre in Portugal. Recognising early on the need for palliative and social support for cancer patients, IPO Lisboa established a social service in 1927, followed by a residential facility for patients undergoing treatment in 1943. A home care team was created in 1956, and a Pain Clinic was introduced in 1978. The paediatric palliative care program was launched in 2006, followed by the establishment of the hospital palliative care team in 2009.
IPO Lisboa is a multidisciplinary oncology centre of reference, dedicated to providing comprehensive healthcare services in oncology. Its mission encompasses research, education, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and continuity of care, ensuring that each patient receives personalised treatment based on best clinical practices and an efficient allocation of resources.
With 264 beds (16 in Paediatrics), operating theatres with ambulatory surgery, radiotherapy, diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine facilities, IPO Lisboa is the country's first cancer treatment centre, providing both adult and paediatric care.
The Institute is certified by the OECI (Organization of the European Cancer Institutes) as a Clinical Center. Alongside the cancer centres of Porto and Coimbra, it forms part of Portuguese Hospital Group of National Cancer Institutes.
Profile
IPO Lisboa's structure includes the following clinical departments and units:
- Surgical specialties (head and neck surgery, ENT, gynaecology, plastic surgery, dermatology, urology, digestive surgery, thoracic surgery, stomatology);
- Haematology (including a bone marrow transplant unit);
- Medical specialties (Medical Oncology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Endocrinology, Pneumology, Cardiology);
- Paediatric Oncology (including a Paediatric Palliative Care Team – PCT-p - and Survivorship Care Team);
- Psychosocial Support and Oncology Care (Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work and Rehabilitation);
- Laboratory diagnostics;
- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy.
- Other Services (Nutrition, Pain Clinic, Anaesthesiology, Medical Emergency Unit, Intensive and Intermediate Care Unit, Emergency Room, Day Hospital, Familial Cancer Risk Clinic, Pharmaceutical Service, Occupational Safety and Health Service, Central Sterilisation Unit, Multidisciplinary Team for the Study and Treatment of Wounds) and palliative care?
The Institute plays a key role in pre- and post-graduate education and training in oncology, providing specialised instruction for medical, nursing, and other healthcare professionals. It also serves as a training centre for oncology fellows and actively participates in clinical research, particularly in Oncology, Paediatric Oncology, Haematology, and PC.
Specialities
Medical Oncology Department is responsible for treating the majority of adult patients with solid tumours. It specialises in the treatment of head and neck, breast, digestive tract, gynaecologic, germ cell, urological (including testicular cancer), and skin cancers, as well as neuroendocrine tumours, sarcomas and cancer of unknown origin. It is composed of 21 senior doctors (medical oncology specialists), 18 junior doctors (medical oncology fellows), 40 nurses, 1 dietitian, 1 psychologist, 2 social workers, 4 secretaries and 18 nurses aids.
Beyond Medical Oncology, other specialties within the Medicine Department, such as Neurology, Endocrinology, and Pneumology, also care for patients with advanced cancer specific to their fields.
The Department of Paediatrics has a staff of 9 senior doctors (including 1 paediatric neurologist), 4 junior doctors, 38 nurses, 1 dietitian, 1 psychologist, 1 social worker, 3 teachers, 3 child life specialists, 16 nurses aides and 4 secretaries. Three doctors and seven nurses have advanced PC education.
Palliative Care is an integral part of the institute’s services, with two specialised hospital-based palliative care teams, one for adults (PCT-a) and another for Paediatric patients (0-18 years old, PCT-p). Both teams provide outpatient consultation and work in close collaboration with inpatient teams across various departments. Additionally, there is a home palliative care team, exclusively for adult patients, ensuring continuity of support beyond the hospital setting.
Palliative and Supportive Care
By integrating specialised palliative care with medical oncology, IPO Lisboa ensures that patients receive comprehensive, multidisciplinary support at all stages of their illness. A multidisciplinary assessment is conducted to evaluate patients' needs in the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual domains, as well as those of their families. This assessment determines the level of complexity, allowing for efficient team integration and resource optimisation. The Medical Oncology and Palliative Care teams work in close collaboration, adapting flexibly to changes in patients’ needs and levels of complexity.
Inpatient beds for palliative care are allocated as needed for patients with uncontrolled symptoms, ensuring a seamless integration of care between Medical Oncologists or Paediatric Oncologists, and the Palliative Care Team.
The Institute is deeply committed to a philosophy of continuity of care, meaning that patients who no longer benefit from anti-tumour interventions continue to receive comprehensive follow-up and support throughout their disease trajectory. The same team that managed the anti-neoplastic interventions remains actively involved, maintaining communication with the primary care team and seeking additional support from other specialties, whenever necessary.
Last update: February 2025
