Cancer palliative care
Supporting you during your cancer journey through palliative care; treating the person as well as the disease.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care, also called supportive care, can improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their families by focusing on relieving the pain, stress, and other symptoms of cancer and its treatment. Palliative care can be given at any age and any stage of disease. It can be provided from the time of diagnosis and continue along with curative treatment. Palliative care providers specialize in treating symptoms. They work alongside your cancer doctors and nurses to best understand what’s most important to you and help you make decisions about your care.
Is palliative care right for you?
Palliative care may be right for you or a loved one if you are having symptoms or side effects that interfere with your quality of life. These might include pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, depression, loss of appetite, or nausea.
Who provides palliative care?
Your oncology doctors and nurses may provide palliative care as part of your cancer treatment to help reduce your symptoms or side effects. They may also ask for help from a palliative care provider or team to work with them and provide expert symptom management, extra time for communication, help with advanced care planning, and help in navigating the health system. The palliative care team may include specially trained doctors, advanced practice nurses, chaplains, social workers, and pharmacists. The Christ Hospital Health Network has palliative care available in the hospital and in the outpatient cancer clinic.
How can I get palliative care?
Ask for it! Tell your doctor, nurse, family, and caregivers that you’re interested in having palliative care along with your cancer treatment to help address symptoms and other concerns for yourself or your loved ones. Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover palliative care services.