Cancer is a dreadful disease whose name itself gives shock to the patient. Although it can be treated to a certain extent but the suffering associated with its treatment is a nightmare. That is why palliative care is given to the patient with an aim to make patient as comfortable as possible during the course of treatment.
Palliative care is designed to give symptomatic relief to the patient, control the side-effects of illness or treatment and improve quality of life of cancer patients. In addition to these, palliative treatment also manages the psychological, social, and spiritual problems of the patient.
Goals of Palliative Care
- Treat symptoms that may have arisen due to cancer or as side-effects of treatment, including pain, nausea, breathlessness, insomnia, and other physical issues
- Manage emotional and social needs, including anxiety, depression, and relationship issues
- Address spiritual needs or concerns
- Address practical needs, such as transportation, insurance questions, employment and financial concerns
- Provide support for family, friends, and caregivers
When Should Be Palliative Care Given To The Patient?
Palliative care should start at diagnosis and be continued throughout all stages of the disease.
Tools of Palliative Care for Cancer
- Drugs to ease pain. Our Pain and Palliative Care Specialist can guide and help patients and their family to address various aspect of pain. Oral Morphine and fentanyl patch prescription is under monitored care of palliative doctors.
- Drugs or supplements to ease side-effects of treatment
- Oxygen therapy with supplemental oxygen tanks to help with shortness of breath
- Counselling to lower stress or anxiety of the patient as well as family
- Nutrition advice to keep patient’s weight, strength and energy levels high
- Physical therapy teaches techniques to the patient so that he can better perform day to day activities
- Meditation, exercises, or yoga for patient relaxation
- Therapeutic massage to rejuvenate patient
Benefits Of Palliative Care For Cancer
- Makes patient feel better and stay active during treatment
- Manages side-effects of cancer treatment
- Facilitates as high a quality of life as possible
- Helps cancer treatments do a better job
- Can be curative as well as life-supporting treatment
- Improves survival outcomes
- Increases immunity levels
- Improves communication between patient and family members
- Maintains hope and stick to principals of ethics
In the journey of cancer, patients receive many types of cancer treatments. Cancer surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and pain management are the main treatments. For advanced stage cancer chemo, radiation therapy and pain relief remains the mainstay of treatments. Unfortunately, even with the best treatment; if cancer gradually spreads throughout the body, palliative care is all that is required. Advanced cancer care network (ACCN) is committed to provide specialist health care at home to all advanced cancer patients. Home care is best for stage 4 cancer patients. Advanced cancer care centre is a place for people who don’t need to be in a hospital but can’t be cared for at home and offers an alternative to nearby nursing homes. Hospice care focuses on the palliation of a chronically ill, terminally ill or seriously ill patient’s pain and symptoms, end of life care and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs. ACCN is all set to provide not only nursing home care but home care products also at home and home becomes care home. The purpose of home health care or home care services is to provide comfort care to the patients. Home health care services include hospice care, home nurse, junior doctor, specialist doctor and other medical treatments at home. Sometimes home health aide can also work like in home nurse. Most of the health care agencies don’t provide respite care for caregiver, but we do. ACCN provides home care nursing services and doctors for home health for assisted living in Delhi, NCR and other parts of north India. Contact us for arranging home visit or for an appointment at our office.
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Note:-This information should not be used as a substitute for necessary consultations with an Oncologist or Cancer Pain Specialist or Palliative Care Specialist to meet your individual needs. Always consult a medically trained & qualified professional with questions and concerns you have regarding your cancer and cancer related problems.