Palliative Care

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. While chemotherapy, radiation and surgery help fight the disease, they come with debilitating side effects that impact quality of life and raise concerns. 

Palliative care is provided to such patients to improve their quality of life, offering a comprehensive approach to managing symptoms and overall health. This can be given to patients with or without any curative care. The goal of palliative care is to prevent or treat any symptoms or side effects of diseases and their treatment as early as possible. Patients are addressed as a whole, and not just their disease. Be it psychological, spiritual or social problems, palliative care covers it all. 

Palliative care can be given at home under the care of a licensed physician, at the hospital as an outpatient clinic, or at a long-term care facility to patients of any age or stage of the disease. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy, when applied as a means to slow tumour growth and alleviate pain, are considered palliative therapies. 

Why palliative care?

Palliative care provides end-stage cancer patients with a fighting chance for survival and improved care as a whole. Some key reasons to consider palliative care at Action Cancer Hospital are as follows:

• Managing symptoms: Cancer symptoms and side effects from treatment are painful and uncomfortable. Palliative care focuses on the effective management of symptoms and treatment side effects such as pain, seizures, headaches, nausea,  anxiety, depression, mental health, difficulty breathing and others, based on the type of cancer patients may have. 
• Improved quality of life: Symptom management itself can improve the way the cancer patient lives since palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms and providing comfort. 
• Better communication: Palliative care involves open communication between the healthcare team and the patient. This ensures that everyone is on board with decisions made regarding the treatment. 
• Limited hospitalisation: Effective symptom management potentially decreases the need to visit the hospital repeatedly for unexpected reasons.
• Emotional support: Palliative care addresses the emotional and spiritual needs of patients. It also supports family members who are having difficulty dealing with the situation.

What are the diseases treated through palliative care?

Palliative care can be beneficial for any person living with any stage of cancer, starting from the diagnosis. It is not limited to end-of-life care but goes beyond treatment and follow-up. Starting palliative care at an early stage ensures a more proactive approach to effective symptom management and also improves the quality of life throughout the cancer journey.

Who are the ideal candidates for this procedure?
Regardless of age, stage of cancer and type of treatment, any cancer patient can opt for palliative care. Some of the points that ensure you are an ideal candidate for palliative care are as follows:

•  Experiencing symptoms that prevent you from performing your routine activities
•  Facing difficult treatment decisions that require additional support in navigating them
•  Having anxiety or depression and other emotional and mental health challenges related to cancer diagnosis
•  Need help in coping with emotional and spiritual aspects of cancer - whether it is for you or your family or both

Expertise of Action Cancer Hospital in palliative care

At Action Cancer Hospital, we provide comprehensive palliative care for people with cancer. Our team of specialists is committed to providing utmost care and end-to-end expert services that ease your journey of battling cancer. Our services begin right from diagnosis of cancer to treating it and beyond. Given below are ways in which we can help you as cancer experts: 

•  We have a team of highly qualified and compassionate professionals including oncologists, nurses, social workers, and chaplains. Our team also has trained dieticians, pastoral care workers, physiotherapists and counsellors. 
•  We take the time to understand your unique needs, preferences, and goals of care. 
•  Our team is skilled in managing a wide range of cancer-related symptoms, ensuring you receive the best possible care.
•  We offer support services that extend beyond the hospital walls, including home visits and outpatient consultations.