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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.
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
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. For a man, being able to have palliative care at home can provide a resemblance of normality. Family and friends can continue to visit and be part of the support network for the individual. If you do require palliative home care there are options available. We at Cavendish Homecare do not underestimate the value and importance of providing palliative care in the home. We have extensive experience of palliative care for cancer patients. One of our cancer care case studies will help you to learn more about the specific help we provide.
We are one of the leading providers of bespoke Cancer Care 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
Please get in touch to discuss any questions or concerns you have around palliative, cancer care, or support required for any home care needs.
