What Is Palliative Care for Cancer Patients?
Palliative treatment for cancer is an important part of your journey. It focuses on helping you feel better and enjoy as high a quality of life as possible. Palliative care is appropriate for any stage of illness at any age and addresses several aspects of life for you and your family:
- Physical: Palliative care seeks to alleviate symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatments, such as pain, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, shortness of breath, insomnia, and more.
- Emotional and mental: A cancer diagnosis can cause many different emotions to surface, such as fear, depression, or anxiety. These are normal responses, but they can make a difficult experience more challenging. Palliative care specialists can connect you with resources for dealing with the emotions that come with the cancer journey.
- Spiritual: It’s normal for people with cancer to seek deeper meaning in their lives. Some people find comfort in their faith or spiritual beliefs, while others may struggle to accept their diagnosis. Palliative care specialists can help you work through your beliefs and values to reach a place of acceptance and peace that is best for you.
- Practical: Cancer can cause many disruptions to daily life and create concerns about work, insurance, finances, or advance directives. Palliative care specialists can help navigate these worries and guide conversations among family members, caregivers, and the cancer care team.
Patients aren’t the only ones who can benefit from palliative care. Family members and friends have evolving needs and may be overwhelmed by additional responsibilities. It can be a challenge to care for an ill loved one while having to navigate the regular obligations of everyday life. Family members might worry about finances or struggle with emotional or mental health needs, including depression and anticipatory grief, which can further increase their stress. Palliative care specialists are trained to support your loved ones, too.
What Is the Difference Between Palliative Care and Hospice?
Hospice and palliative care are often assumed to be the same thing. While they both focus on relieving suffering, they are used in different situations.
Palliative care seeks to reduce symptoms and maximize your comfort and quality of life. It may be given at the same time as cancer treatments, and receiving palliative care does not mean that your cancer is incurable. Palliative care may be offered in any environment, from your oncologist’s office to your home.
On the other hand, hospice is used when an illness is incurable and the patient is no longer seeking treatment. It is typically delivered in the home or a hospice facility and is reserved for those whose life expectancy is limited to days, weeks, or months.
When Is Palliative Care Used?
Palliative care services may be used at any point during cancer care, including at the end of life. It can begin as soon as you receive your diagnosis. When you choose palliative care early in your journey, even when your treatment is expected to be successful, your care team can help make your experience smoother by coordinating communication and care across your treatment plan.
Who Provides Palliative Care?
Palliative care teams can include a wide range of people to support you:
- Your oncologist
- Other specialist doctors
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Counselors and therapists
- Dietitians and physical therapists
- Pastoral care workers
How Is Palliative Care Accessed?
To access palliative care, you should ask your oncologist or someone on your cancer care team. From there, you will be connected with an expert palliative care team provided by our reliable partners. They are specially trained to work with you and your family to understand your values, needs, and treatment preferences.
Is Palliative Care Worth It?
Research shows that people who receive palliative care can live longer and better and be more satisfied with their medical care. It can be helpful to be surrounded by people who have your best interest at heart and work hard to help you stay comfortable and supported during your cancer treatments.
Trust The CHC for Your Care
You and your loved ones don’t have to navigate cancer alone. Trust The Cancer and Hematology Centers and our palliative care partners to be with you every step of the way.