Palliative care for patients with cancer

Holistic approach improves quality of life before, during and after cancer treatment

A serious illness like cancer can take its toll on your physical, mental and emotional health. That's why we offer palliative care as a way to support you and provide relief from symptoms or side effects caused by cancer therapies.
 
Palliative care uses evidence-based medicine to treat physical side effects, like nausea, shortness of breath or back pain, that can affect your health and well-being. It also addresses emotional and mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety and stress, to help you cope with treatment.
 
You can receive palliative care at any point in your cancer journey, whether you are actively receiving treatment or not. That means it is appropriate at any stage in your illness – at diagnosis, as the disease progresses, or near the end of life.

Advance care planning records your wishes for medical care

A palliative care provider can help you prepare advance care directives. The documents give you a way to define your preferences for care as life moves beyond cancer-directed treatments.

What's the difference between palliative care and hospice?

Palliative care is about how you live with a serious illness, like cancer. It goes beyond treatment for the disease to provide relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. You can receive palliative care at any stage of illness, including while you are receiving medical treatment.
 
Your palliative care provider works with your entire healthcare team to coordinate your care and support your personal preferences for how you live your life.
 
The support and care you receive from palliative care can help you live longer, according to clinical studies. It also reduces hospital stays and lowers costs for medical services.
 
Hospice care begins when cancer-directed treatment is no longer effective. When patients transition to hospice care, life expectancy is less than six months.

Hospice services focus on easing pain and discomfort as a patient approaches the end of life. Patients and caregivers may receive hospice services and palliative care to maintain the best possible quality of life.

We can help

Call (888) 492-HOPE to learn more about palliative care services available for patients at Goshen Center for Cancer Care.