“Palliative care” refers to medical care that relieves symptoms but does not cure the underlying condition. It’s a term that’s frequently associated with terminal disease and hospice care. And while it can be beneficial for people who are in the final stages of cancer, it is something you should consider no matter what stage of cancer you are now experiencing.

Palliative care focuses on relieving the patient’s symptoms while they are still receiving active treatment, even if they will continue to receive active therapy for the rest of their illness or disability. Palliative care is available for people of all ages and medical conditions who are suffering from a life-limiting illness, regardless of their age, medical condition, or stage of illness. While palliative care can be delivered in the patient’s home, it is more commonly provided as part of a comprehensive care program in an extended healthcare facility or nursing home setting, alongside medical care.

Patients’ comfort and well-being are prioritized in palliative care, which is a comprehensive plan that considers both the patient’s overall requirements and their specific physical conditions. Palliative care experts working with patients and their families analyze and address the physical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of their patients in this manner. Aside from that, hospice and palliative care can be combined to ensure that your loved one receives the attention and care he or she requires.

Patients who have less than six months to live should receive hospice care, not palliative care, according to the American Hospice Association. Because it’s designed to help people cope with pain and anguish while also assisting their loved ones as they face death, they stand to gain from it. Hospice care may also include emotional support to patients and their caregivers in addition to supporting them with everyday tasks such as bathing and dressing, as well as meal preparation. Hospice care is often administered in the patient’s home under the supervision of a team of hospice care experts once they have been referred by their primary care physician to the program. Nursing homes and hospice facilities can provide round-the-clock hospice care, but the majority of hospice patients prefer to receive their care in the comfort of their own homes.

However, it’s important to note that while hospice care is palliative care, not all palliative care is hospice care. Hospice care is an option for patients whose physical symptoms are too tough for their primary caregivers to handle and demand more frequent visits from a professional health care team. Patients benefit from hospice care providers’ compassionate support by enhancing their comfort and giving anticipatory counseling throughout the end-of-life continuum, as well as during the hospice admission process, according to the American Hospice Association. Yet another benefit of Hospice Care is that it provides support to a patient’s family in the months leading up to, and immediately following, his or her passing.

The goal is to assist you in feeling better and being active while you are receiving treatment for your condition. Your doctor and other health-care experts will work together to treat your cancer, pain, nausea, fatigue, breathing issues, and stress, among other symptoms.

When a pediatrician proposes that a consultation with the palliative care team be scheduled, it can be a frightening experience for parents. If parents believe that the word “palliative care” is synonymous with “end-of-life care,” they may be hesitant to agree to a consultation with a physician.

However, pediatric palliative care, also known as pediatric advanced care (PAC), is not restricted to the treatment of patients nearing the end of their lives. PAC teams provide a wide range of services to families of children who are suffering from a chronic or life-limiting illness at any stage of their illness. It is possible that children will recover and families will no longer require the service. However, not everyone understands how useful palliative care may be in certain situations.

“Some people strive to maintain a stiff upper lip and avoid admitting that they require assistance. Instead, people may get overwhelmed by the news that they have cancer. “Palliative care, on the other hand, can help you feel as good as possible while maintaining the highest possible quality of life.”

Palliative care for persons with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may involve the following:

·         Medications or supplements to alleviate nausea, discomfort, or exhaustion.

·         Oxygen treatment can be used to alleviate shortness of breath.

·         Stress management and anxiety reduction counseling.

·         Nutritional guidance to help you maintain a healthy weight and good energy levels.