Palliative care and hospice care, often believed to be synonymous, which they are definitely not, ensure the kind of medically approved care and comfort that patients need if they are in serious conditions or their sunset years. Understanding the differences between the two is important for caregivers, patients and family members to ensure the right kind of care at the proper time so that those, who need it, can make the most of every day in their life.
Who Need Palliative Care?
Palliative care is not meant for only those with a few days/months to live. The patients, who are suffering from critical illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, COPD, diabetes, dementia, Parkinson’s disease or any other problem related to serious physical and/or mental health condition, deserve palliative care that will do symptom management, ease their suffering and make life as comfortable as possible for them. Palliative care seeks to ensure better quality of lives for the patients.
In this article, we will discuss the importance of palliative care for cancer patients. At the best cancer treatment hospital in Kolkata, palliative care is integral to a cancer patient’s journey from diagnosis to recovery. Hence, cancer patients need and receive comprehensive palliative care when they undergo chemotherapy and/or radiation and even after surgery. Those in advanced stages always qualify for immediate and continued palliative care to get relief from a host of medical conditions such as, pain, nausea, bloating and other kinds of discomfort.
Both chemotherapy and radiotherapy are effective as a treatment to destroy cancer cells. However, they often inflict several side effects such as nausea, dry mouth, constipation, loss of appetite, menstrual problems (in pre-menopausal women) etc. If these problems are properly addressed and managed, patients can live a prolonged and better quality of life. It highlights the importance of palliative care for those who receive a diagnosis of cancer or its recurrence.
Patients, who are the right candidates for palliative care, receive regular visits from the trained nurses and other attendants who work in tandem with physicians. The caregiver team monitors effectiveness of their treatment plan and based on the reports, recommend changes if needed.
What is the difference between palliative care and hospice care?
Hospice care is meant for the patients who have received a prognosis of 0-6 months and choose not to continue with palliative care. When a cancer patient reaches a stage where no medically approved therapy won’t work any longer and if administered, will do more harm than any good, he/she and the family members can seek a transition to hospice care.
At cancer hospitals in Kolkata, a hospice care team includes a hospice aid, nurse, bereavement specialist, chaplain, social worker and volunteers.
Final Words
Cancer patients, who have received their diagnosis or are in serious conditions or have only a few months to live, should talk to their healthcare provider about palliative and hospice care and what will suit their condition best. Even if the patients need none of these, still knowing about these options will help them decide the right plan for their future.
Palliative care is often continued in conjunction with curative measures. Each day matters a lot for a seriously ill patient. The palliative care team does everything in their capacity to ensure a more positive experience for the patients so that they can feel a bundle of joy at every passing moment.