Cancer is a debilitating disease that can rob an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional health while also draining away their finances. Palliative care in cancer treatment is an approach of providing holistic support to patients battling cancer. This holistic approach is targeted towards maintaining the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of such patients. It aims at improving the overall quality of life of cancer patients and their families.
Key aspects of Palliative care
Caring for a cancer patient requires great care and compassion from the caregivers’ end. Along with a proper line of treatment, palliative care forms an integral part of the care plan. Some of the key aspects looked into while providing palliative care to cancer patients include:
• Symptom management: As part of palliative care, efforts are taken to relieve patients of their existing symptoms such as pain, nausea, insomnia, fatigue, and breathing difficulties. For this purpose, medications and non-pharmacological methods are employed to mitigate the symptoms. Non-drug techniques include physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, etc. which lessen symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and pain.
• Psychological/spiritual distress: Often, it is observed that cancer patients feel discouraged and demotivated. For a little morale boost, they may be led into cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) sessions, counselling sessions, and relaxation techniques. To calm their frayed nerves, yoga and meditation can be an effective means to connect with their spiritual self. All these techniques aim at relaxing and calming the troubled mind.
• Nutritional tips: Nutrition plays an important role in recovery from cancer. Eating wholesome food is vital as cancer tends to decrease body weight of the patient, in general. The role of a nutritionist is not limited to providing a balanced diet chart only, but it aims at managing symptoms such as nausea, taste changes, and fatigue in the patient.
• Family support: Cancer does not only affect an individual patient but also their respective family members. With frequent hospital visits for treatment, even the patient’s family starts draining out in terms of physical strength and emotional well-being. Caring for their family is also important during a crisis like this by extending all possible support, even as they take life-changing decisions on behalf of the patients.
When should Palliative care begin?
Ideally, palliative care for a cancer patient should begin from the time of diagnosis and continue throughout the treatment plan. Palliative care should run simultaneously along with curative or life-long treatments. Right from the time of diagnosis, during early treatment to manage side effects of the treatment, up until the symptoms increase, causing psychological distress to the patient, palliative care should form an essential part of cancer treatment journey.
These days, palliative care is more patient-centric and makes use of tools like Symptom Assessment Scale (SAS) to assess the level of symptoms like pain, fatigue, insomnia, etc. and gauge their distress levels. Palliative care is provided at every stage of cancer treatment-from diagnosis, throughout treatment, and even during follow-up visits. It can be rendered on-site in a healthcare setting or remotely for the patient’s home.
The benefits of getting access to palliative care cannot be negated in any way. It is the responsibility of a multidisciplinary team, consisting of specialized oncologists, palliative caregivers, physiotherapists, nutritionists, and nurses to join hands and make the cancer treatment journey as seamless as possible for the patient and the family involved.