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http://www.who.int/cancer/palliative/definition/en/
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families
facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of
suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and
other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual. Palliative care:
offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death;
offers a support system to help the family cope during the patients illness and in their
own bereavement;
uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including
bereavement counselling, if indicated;
will enhance quality of life, and may also positively influence the course of illness;
is applicable early in the course of illness, in conjunction with other therapies that are
intended to prolong life, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and includes those
investigations needed to better understand and manage distressing clinical complications.
Palliative care for children is the active total care of the child's body, mind and spirit, and
also involves giving support to the family.
It begins when illness is diagnosed, and continues regardless of whether or not a child
receives treatment directed at the disease.
Health providers must evaluate and alleviate a child's physical, psychological, and social
distress.
Effective palliative care requires a broad multidisciplinary approach that includes the
family and makes use of available community resources; it can be successfully
implemented even if resources are limited.
It can be provided in tertiary care facilities, in community health centres and even in
children's homes.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/palliativecare.html
Hospitals, cancer centers, and long-term care facilities provide palliative care.
Patients may also receive it at home. Physicians and local hospitals can
provide the names of palliative care or symptom management specialists.
Research shows that palliative care improves the quality of life of patients
and family members, as well as the physical and emotional symptoms of
cancer and its treatment.
symptoms, side effects, and emotional problems experienced by patients. The goal is to
maintain the best possible quality of life.
Often, palliative care specialists work as part of a multidisciplinary team to coordinate
care. This palliative care team may consist of doctors, nurses, registered dieticians,
pharmacists, and social workers. Many teams include psychologists or a hospital chaplain
as well. Palliative care specialists may also make recommendations to primary care
physicians about the management of pain and other symptoms. People do not give up
their primary care physician to receive palliative care.
4. If a person accepts palliative care, does it mean he or she wont get cancer
treatment?
No. Palliative care is given in addition to cancer treatment. However, when a patient
reaches a point at which treatment to destroy the cancer is no longer warranted, palliative
care becomes the total focus of care. It will continue to be given to alleviate the
symptoms and emotional issues of cancer. Palliative care providers can help ease the
transition to end-of-life care.
5. What is the difference between palliative care and hospice?
Although hospice care has the same principles of comfort and support, palliative care is
offered earlier in the disease process. As noted above, a persons cancer treatment
continues to be administered and assessed while he or she is receiving palliative care.
Hospice care is a form of palliative care that is given to a person when cancer therapies
are no longer controlling the disease. It focuses on caring, not curing. When a person has
a terminal diagnosis (usually defined as having a life expectancy of 6 months or less) and
is approaching the end of life, he or she might be eligible to receive hospice care. More
information is available in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) fact sheet Hospice at
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/hospice on the Internet.
6. Where do cancer patients receive palliative care?
Cancer centers and hospitals often have palliative care specialists on staff. They may also
have a palliative care team that monitors and attends to patient and family needs. Cancer
centers may also have programs or clinics that address specific palliative care issues, such
as lymphedema, pain management, sexual functioning, or psychosocial issues.
A patient may also receive palliative care at home, either under a physicians care or
through hospice, or at a facility that offers long-term care.
7. How does a person find a place that offers palliative care?
Patients should ask their doctor for the names of palliative care and symptom
management specialists in the community. A local hospice may be able to offer referrals
as well. Area hospitals or medical centers can also provide information. In addition, some
national organizations have specific databases for referrals. For example, the Center to
Advance Palliative Care has a list of providers by state at
http://www.getpalliativecare.org/providers on the Internet. The National Hospice and
Palliative Care Organizations Web site also has a list of providers at
http://www.nhpco.org on the Internet.
8. What issues are addressed in palliative care?
Palliative care can address a broad range of issues, integrating an individuals specific
needs into care. The physical and emotional effects of cancer and its treatment may be
very different from person to person. For example, differences in age, cultural
background, or support systems may result in very different palliative care needs.
Comprehensive palliative care will take the following issues into account for each
patient:
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emotional needs have a better experience with their medical care. Their quality of life and
physical symptoms improve.
In addition, the Institute of Medicine 2007 report Cancer Care for the Whole Patient cites
many studies that show patients are less able to adhere to their treatment and manage
their illness and health when physical and emotional problems are present. To view this
report, go to http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2007/Cancer-Care-for-the-Whole-PatientMeeting-Psychosocial-Health-Needs.aspx on the Internet.
Furthermore, patients who have serious illnesses and receive palliative care consultations
have lower hospital costs than those who dont. These consultations help determine
treatment priorities and, therefore, help patients avoid unnecessary tests and procedures.
(For more information, go to
http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/NCI_Cancer_Bulletin_090908/page3 on the
Internet.)
14. Does NCI support palliative care research?
Yes. NCI supports a number of projects in the area of symptom management and
palliative care. Clicking the following links online will launch real-time searches of
NCIs list of cancer clinical trials for supportive and palliative care that are currently
enrolling participants. The search results can be further narrowed by trial location, drug
name, intervention type, and other criteria.
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General information about cancer clinical trials is also available on NCIs Clinical Trials
Home Page at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials on the Internet.
In addition, NCIs Office of Cancer Survivorship sponsors research that addresses
symptom management for patients and families who have completed treatment. For a list
of funded studies, go to http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/ocs/portfolio.asp on the Internet.
Moreover, NCIs Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) sponsors a number of
clinical trials that are designed to treat many cancer-related symptoms. These symptoms
include nausea and vomiting, fatigue, peripheral neuropathy, pain, and sleep problems.
Trials that are designed to prevent symptoms are also listed. For more information, go to
http://prevention.cancer.gov/programs-resources/programs/ccop on the Internet. These
clinical trials will be included in the search results obtained using the links above.