What is the importance of Palliative care?
Palliative care is an important part of the care that is included along with treatments to slow, stop, or cure cancer. Research shows that palliative care can improve the quality of your life and help you feel more satisfied with the treatment you receive. One may start palliative care soon after learning he/she has cancer and continue to receive this type of care through treatment and recovery. For example, cancer survivors who have ongoing or new symptoms or side effects after treatment is completed also may receive palliative care.
Addressing suffering involves taking care of issues beyond physical symptoms. Our team uses an approach to support patients and their caregivers. This includes addressing practical needs and providing bereavement counseling. It offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death.
Palliative care is required for a wide range of diseases. The majority of adults in need of palliative care have chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (38.5%), cancer (34%), chronic respiratory diseases (10.3%), AIDS (5.7%), and diabetes (4.6%). Many other conditions may require palliative care, including kidney failure, chronic liver disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, neurological disease, dementia, congenital anomalies, and drug-resistant tuberculosis.
- Here are some tips for talking with any health care team:
Ask the doctor to explain your diagnosis, treatment plan, and prognosis. Prognosis is the chance of recovery. These might change with time, so keep asking questions. One can take notes at your appointments or bring someone along to help you remember things. - Ask our health care team to explain anything you do not understand. This can be a medical word, a treatment, or something else.
- Ask questions about your social, emotional, functional, and spiritual needs. Here is a list of questions to ask the doctor to help you get started.
- Tell our health care team about any pain, discomfort, or other side effects. Do this even if you think they are not serious, or if you are afraid that the cancer is getting worse. Telling a doctor about your symptoms helps them find the best options for managing those symptoms more quickly. As of today, there are many ways to relieve symptoms.
Our palliative care team
Palliative care starts with our cancer care team. Tell them about any symptoms you have. Also talk with them about any life changes or problems, such as needing rides to the hospital or time off work. Our cancer care team can contact other palliative care professionals. These might include:
A social worker, who can help with everyday tasks and challenges such as finding rides or adjusting to a new diagnosis.
A counselor, psychologist, or child life specialist, if the person with cancer is your child. These people can help with emotional or mental health needs and family problems.
A chaplain or other spiritual advisor. This person can help you with doubts, fears, and questions about life and illness. They can help you find support. You do not need to be religious to talk with a chaplain or spiritual advisor.
You can also check out the video on palliative care
