Listen to the Cancer.Net Podcast: Explaining Palliative Care, adapted from this content.

Today, doctors are able to cure many people diagnosed with cancer. If a cure is not possible, some people receive treatment to manage the symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatment. This type of treatment is called palliative care, and it helps people with cancer at all stages of their illness live as comfortably as possible.

Purpose of palliative care

The goals of palliative care include:

• Treating pain and all other physical symptoms caused by cancer and its treatment
  
  
• Addressing a person's spiritual needs or concerns
  
  
• Addressing a person's practical needs, such as transportation and financial concerns. Learn more about managing the cost of cancer care.
  
  
• Treating a person's psychosocial (emotional and social) needs, such as coping with changes in body image and depression
  
  
• Providing support for the patient's family, friends, and caregivers

Palliative care is not giving up on treatment. In fact, people with cancer may receive curative therapy and treatment to ease symptoms at the same time or switch between these options.

Children can also receive palliative care. In these situations, parents usually work with the health care team to help their children manage symptoms so they can feel as comfortable as possible. Members of the family, including other children, receive counseling to help cope with the situation.

Comparing palliative care and hospice care

Although the terms palliative care and hospice care are sometimes used interchangeably, they have slightly different meanings. Palliative care applies to every step of the cancer process, whereas hospice care in the United States is used when the life expectancy is six months or less. Learn more about hospice care.

The palliative care team

Several health care professionals may participate as part of a team to give palliative care.

Doctor. The doctor serves as the health care team leader; makes treatment plans and decides on medication and dosing, and may consult with other doctors, such as a pain specialist or a radiation oncologist. The doctor may visit the patient in the home or may supervise the care plan without actually seeing the patient.

Nurse. The nurse gives direct care to the patient and helps with managing pain and other side effects of cancer and its treatment. The nurse also acts as a liaison with the rest of the health care team. For people in home hospice programs, nurses visit them at home several times a week and sometimes more than once a day. Learn more about the role of an oncology nurse.

Social worker. A social worker may help with financial issues, arrange family meetings, and helps with the discharge from the hospital to home or hospice care. Read more about how an oncology social worker can help.

Hospital chaplain or other spiritual advisor. A chaplain counsels the patient and family members on religious and spiritual matters.

Dietitian. A dietitian helps the patient and family members plan healthy meals and addresses nutritional concerns.

Physical therapist. A physical therapist helps the patient maintain movement and helps when the patient has difficulty moving around. A physical therapist also addresses safety concerns in the home.

Grief and bereavement coordinator. This professional counsels the patient and family members and helps with planning memorial services.

Learn more about members of the oncology team.

The role of communication

Communication is an important part of palliative care because it helps to clarify needs and expectations. It is important for patients and caregivers to understand the diagnosis and prognosis (chance of recovery) and to be a part of the medical decision-making process. Here are some practical tips to help promote good communication with the health care team:

• Find doctors who are willing to answer questions and listen to your concerns.
  
  
• Ask the doctor to explain the diagnosis and the treatment plan and follow up if the answers are not clear. Taking notes, or bringing a family member or friend along, may help you remember all of the information. Find a list of questions to ask the doctor.
  
  
• Tell the doctor and nurse about any pain, discomfort, or other side effects, such as mouth sores, nausea, vomiting, and constipation you experience. Learn more about managing side effects.

End-of-life considerations

Often, people with cancer and those who care about them find it too painful to think about the possibility that the treatments won't cure the cancer. Sometimes, though, curative treatment no longer slows or stops the growth of cancer. The doctor and the patient may then decide to focus on palliative care.

Talking about how to comfort someone in the later stages of an illness is difficult for most people. Sometimes, friends and relatives are afraid that if they mention death, they are seen as giving up. In fact, most people, especially those with an incurable illness, have probably already thought about death. Talking about some practical issues, such as advance directives (instructions for medical care in the event that the person cannot communicate his or her wishes), hospice care, or memorial services gives the patient some control over the situation and may help the grieving process for family and friends. These conversations may also let family members reaffirm love and promote a special closeness, which may help ease the pain of separation. A social worker or chaplain can help the family talk about these issues. In addition, some palliative care services offer grief counseling to help friends and family members cope with loss.

Finding Palliative Care

Here are some organizations that provide information and referrals to hospice and palliative care organizations:

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

Center to Advance Palliative Care: GetPalliativeCare.org

Hospice Education Institute

More Information

Caring for the Whole Patient

Coping

End-of-Life Care

Additional Resources

MedlinePlus: Palliative Care