About palliative care
Cancer is a life-threatening illness that can cause several troubling symptoms. Cancer treatment, additionally, can be mentally and physically taxing for the patients.
Palliative care is offered along with medical care to help patients cope with these symptoms in a better manner. Palliative care extends help with nutritional guidance, treatment & their side effects, relaxation techniques and support for the patient and their caregivers.
Types of palliative care
Palliative care includes taking care of different aspects of a patient’s health. These include:
Physical
Cancer can cause physical effects such as pain, persistent fatigue, breathlessness and loss of appetite. Palliative care offers effective ways to help navigate these problems.
Mental
Cancer and its treatment can take a toll on your mental health. It is common to feel anxious or depressed due to cancer. Palliative care involves mental health support, counselling, therapy and other forms of guidance.
Emotional
Dealing with cancer can be emotionally exhausting for you and your caregivers. It is important to address any emotional grievances such as anger and sadness. Palliative care provides effective ways to help deal with these emotions.
Social
Living with cancer can alter your social lifestyle and leave you feeling alone. Palliative care allows patients to have a social life without many obstacles.
You can have palliative care at any stage of the illness at any age. It is dependent on the unique needs of the patient.
Palliative care is an essential element of comprehensive cancer care. It helps patients to deal with symptoms of cancer and the side effects of the treatment.