Cancer patients require palliative care throughout their treatment and post remission too. For some terminally ill patients, care is given till the end of life which is called hospice care. It is important to understand that though these terms are closely related, they have a different purpose. While palliative care refers to maintaining the quality of life of patients during cancer treatment and beyond, hospice care focuses on comfort-focused care of patients who have roughly six months or less to live.
What is Palliative care?
Palliative care focuses on easing pain and discomfort of cancer patients and also reducing their stress while they are receiving curative and therapeutic treatments for cancer. It can be provided at any stage of the illness and to patients of any age, not just older adults. Palliative care can be started as early as the time a serious disease like cancer is diagnosed and goes alongside treatments.
The types of support that may fall under palliative care include:
• Pain and symptom management: Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc. can be quite painful. These treatments also have side effects such as fatigue, nausea, change in taste, loss of appetite, etc. which needs to be managed effectively. Palliative care providers help in managing pain and treatment symptoms in cancer patients.
• Emotional and psychological support: Cancer not only affects a patient physically but also has an impact on the emotional and psychological aspect of his or her life. Cancer is often associated with negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, etc. To allay your fears and sustain your emotional well-being at a time like this, palliative care providers step in to help.
• Coordination of care: A palliative care team coordinates your care, focusing on your physical and emotional wellness as an integral part of your cancer treatment.
What is Hospice care?
Hospice care is directed towards patients who are terminally ill, where cure is no longer possible and the patient has about six month’s survival period. In some cases, the patient may choose not to undergo certain treatment which lessens their longevity. A healthcare provider needs to certify that a patient needs hospice care which aims at comforting the patient and easing their life in the end days. Hospice care can be given from the comfort of a patient’s home or as short in-patient care in a hospital or nursing home setting. For a patient who is nearing death, hospice care can include physical, emotional, as well spiritual support. Although hospice care provides a lot of support to a terminally ill patient, the day-to-day care of such patients is taken by their family members and close friends. So, essentially hospice care may be treated as end-of-life care.
Similarities between Palliative and Hospice care
The purpose behind both palliative and hospice care is to provide relief and ease off pain and other symptoms for the patient. Together, both these care giving approaches work towards common goals which are as mentioned below:
• Have patient-centred approach
• Lay emphasis on improving quality of life of patients
• Consist of multidisciplinary care team
• Provide support both for the patient and their family
Understanding the key difference between palliative and hospice care is vital for making informed decisions about the health and overall quality of life of a patient. While both are focussed on giving comfort and support, the time of providing each one is designed differently. By knowing your options well and having an open conversation with your healthcare provider, you can ensure that care aligns with your personal values while preserving the dignity of life and enhancing well-being during crucial times.