Palliative care, as an evidence-based approach, can improve the quality of life of cancer patients and their families and reduce the economic burden on the health system. Despite the World Health Organization's emphasis on the need to provide palliative care from the first weeks of cancer diagnosis, the findings of a cross-sectional study on 247 cancer patients in Tehran show that patients' knowledge and attitude toward this type of care are at an unfavorable level (P<0.001, β=0.305). Patients' knowledge is the strongest predictor of their attitude toward palliative care.This policy brief, based on the findings of this study, provides practical recommendations for improving knowledge and modifying patients' attitudes.