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Palliative care often gets confused with the end of life care, but the two are different, even if they offer similar things. For cancer patients, palliative care is an integral part of treatment. This article will go over exactly what palliative care can mean, and how it can be used alongside treatment for cancer.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care aims to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life during a period of illness. There’s no specific point of being ill that requires palliative care, you can have it whenever it is needed. It can be used to help someone with cancer live more comfortably or if medical assistance is no longer required or wanted.
Palliative care refers to a lot of different types of treatment, including pain relief medications and even spiritual care. Some of the treatments that are specifically for cancer can reduce the size or slow the growth of tumours, which can help with pain as tumours sometimes put pressure on nerves and tissue.
Cancer treatments do not have to be stopped to have palliative care. The cancer treatments that palliative care can assist with include:
- chemotherapy
- radiotherapy
- hormone therapy
- targeted cancer drugs
- radiofrequency ablation
- cryotherapy
Some of these treatments can cause side effects, and palliative care also works to help manage these. For example, anti-sickness for feelings of nausea after chemotherapy.
How does a cancer patient benefit from palliative care?
Doctors tailor treatment and care plans based on the type of cancer and the individual. A palliative care plan is no different, the individual will always receive a personalised care plan. Some cancers are more aggressive or widespread, so may need more extensive palliative care than others. However, palliative care is available for any and all types of cancer.
The many benefits of palliative care for cancer treatment include:
- Pain relief
- Anti-sickness
- Managing wounds or stomas
- Additional medications for side-affects
- Support you to live as fully as possible
- Provides support to your family and caregivers
You can speak to your doctor or healthcare provider as soon as the diagnosis is given. You do not have to wait for a certain point of cancer treatment. It is also available post-op if that is part of your cancer treatment.
Can you receive palliative care at home?
You can receive palliative care at home as well as in the hospital. Many people with cancer prefer to have treatments at home as it is a place they feel most comfortable. Being able to have palliative care at home can provide a resemblance of normality and your family and friends can continue to visit and be part of your support network. If you do require private palliative home care there are options available.
How can Cavendish Homecare help?
At Cavendish Homecare we are experts in providing private palliative homecare for clients who wish to remain in their own homes. When it comes to your health and well-being, choosing the right homecare package is of utmost importance and navigating this process can be overwhelming. We are one of the leading providers of bespoke private Cancer Homecare in the UK, offering superior and flexible support. Everything from day-to-day care to highly specialised clinical expertise is available to our clients.
The experience our team has within the NHS and private healthcare sector means we can work closely with multidisciplinary teams to maintain the best support based on individual needs, never a one size fits all care plan.
Cavendish Homecare can provide a whole host of palliative care options including:
- A Registered Nurse or Carer to accompany you to and/or from appointments
- Someone to be on-hand during your treatment
- Support coping with the side-effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Assistance with rehabilitation following surgery for cancer
- Wound care
- Stoma care
- Mobility assistance
- Mental and emotional support
With Cavendish Homecare by your side, you’ll have the support you need to remain safely at home while enjoying elevated health and wellbeing. If you would like to enquire more about our palliative care services in London and the Home Counties, contact us on, 02030085210 or email us at info@cavendishhomecare.com.
About the Author…
Zahrah Abdullah
Operations Assistant
During her time as a Youth Worker at Challengers, a charity dedicated to supporting children and young people with disabilities, Zahrah demonstrated excellence in assisting in the delivery of inclusive play activities. She gained knowledge in Makaton, and underwent training in Crisis Prevention/Intervention, specifically focusing on managing challenging verbal and physical behaviours.
Currently holding a key role within Cavendish Homecare’s operations team, Zahrah takes charge of ensuring the seamless set up of new cases, managing the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) to clients and the nursing and carer teams, organising staff training and providing crucial support to Nurse Managers.
