Palliative & Supportive care
Palliative care
Palliative care (from the Latin palliare, to cloak) is the active process of preventing and relieving pain and suffering to allow the cancer patient the best possible quality of life. The expression covers any form of medical care or treatment that concentrates on reducing the severity of the symptoms (rather than trying to halt, delay or cure the disease).
Many aspects of palliative care are applicable in the early stages of the cancer pathway in association with, and to help maximise, other treatments.
A CUP patient (who subsequently received a specific cancer diagnosis) writes to Jo's friends:
People sometimes associate palliative or hospice care with end-of-life and it can seem scary, but it is actually very supportive. I would try and make it clear on the website that CUP patients should seek the support of a palliative care team/nurse, whether they are still receiving treatment or not. Currently, I make very little use of the palliative care services but initially, I was more reliant on the palliative care team than oncology.
The expressions “palliative” and “supportive” care are used differently by different people. The terms are often used in an interchangeable way in the UK. The term “supportive care” was originally used in the context of cancer care to refer to relief of the symptoms of cancer therapy, but it is now seen in a wider context. Some hospitals have “Hospital Support Teams” covering palliative and supportive care. The bottom line is that hospitals and cancer centres will have concern for the patient’s physical, social and mental care – the things we talk about on this page - in the way that the Roman soldier had a pallium or cloak to help keep him comfortable.
Supportive care
A cancer diagnosis is life changing. Patients and families need access to high quality information and support to cope with cancer and its treatment. It will be the intention of the providers to do this with dignity and respect; encouraging the patient's involvement in decisions related to their treatment and care.
Some patients will fall back on their own inner resources and the help of family and friends; many will benefit also from the professional services that are available (and a patient's needs are likely to fluctuate over time). Patients' reactions to a cancer diagnosis will vary considerably but can range from fighting spirit, denial, hopelessness, and acceptance. An important part of the support package for many cancer patients is psychological and spiritual care.
Assessment and discussion of a patient's needs for physical, social, spiritual and financial support should be undertaken at key points. [e.g. at diagnosis and during treatment] Source: NICE.
Taken as a whole, the support system can help an individual and their family live as actively and happily as possible. To access palliative care and support in your cancer network ask your doctor or nurse. (Information on State financial Benefits and Entitlements to help the cancer patient is shown also on our website). Further information on Palliative Care is given in the links below.
Links:
NHS (NICE) Guidelines on Supportive and Palliative care for adults: http://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/CSGSP
The National Council for Palliative Care explains Palliative Care Services in the UK in some detail: http://www.ncpc.org.uk/palliative_care.html
Message board
"Your website is such a good way of providing information that empowers the patient/carer to ask for support".
Anne (former CUP patient)
Meeting Space
Join others affected by
CUP to share information
& gain support in a moderated forum
Events
Kate and Rebecca’s half marathon run raises £1,500 through JustGiving
