Charity Organization

Palliative Care

What is Palliative Care?

The term Palliative care, coined by Canadian surgeon Balfour Mount, refers to a specific area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients particularly those who are terminally ill. Palliative care helps in the betterment of the quality of life of patients and families who are struggling with life-threatening illness and should be viewed as a comfort care.

Definition of Palliative Care

The World Health Organization defines palliative care as 'an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening illness, through prevention and relief of suffering. It integrates the psychological and emotional aspects of patient care. It is a support system both for the patient and the family.'

Scope of Palliative care 

Palliative care is provided by doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with the patient and the family. The approach of Palliative care is multi-dimensional and addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual concerns of the patients. To provide this treatment, following aspects are taken into account.

• Physical: Common physical symptoms include pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and insomnia. Many of these can be relieved with medicines or by using other methods, such as nutrition therapy, physical therapy, or deep breathing techniques. Also, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery may be used to shrink tumors that are causing pain and other problems.
• Emotional: Palliative care specialists can provide resources to help patients and families deal with the emotions that come with the disease. Depression, anxiety, and fear are only a few of the concerns that can be addressed through palliative care.

Cancer and Palliative Care

Palliative care is a crucial part of cancer treatment and can be offered quite simply and economically. It alleviates and eases the side effects of cancer treatment and relieves pain and discomfort.

Cancer and its treatment can prompt pain, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, and other such symptoms. It can also pose a grave emotional and monetary burden on the family. In such circumstances, Palliative care can be significantly beneficial to the patient and his/her loved ones.

Palliative care has improved the quality of life for many cancer patients and their families. Cancare Foundation is committed to this cause.