As an oncologist, I know that palliative oncology is all about improving the quality of life for patients. Although patients are referred to palliative care when further cancer treatment is impossible, doctors, nurses, and the entire healthcare team continue to work to ensure that the patient has the greatest quality of life possible.
Here are five things I want you to know about palliative care.
Palliative oncology addresses the person as a whole, not just the disease
Like palliative care, palliative oncology seeks to promote the patient’s physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. Palliative oncology is not just about cancer, the same way general palliative care is not just about the patient’s serious disease.
Palliative care is not the same as hospice care
Curative care is not necessarily excluded from palliative care. A referral to palliative care does not always mean the patient is “terminal.” It just means that care focuses on living better and possibly living longer, not “beating” the disease. But palliative care can be provided at any point after diagnosis, while hospice care is provided when treatments for the disease ceased. People under the care of a palliative oncologist may continue to receive cancer treatment.
In palliative oncology, the oncologist is usually part of a team
Palliative care is its own medical specialty. Providers of palliative oncology, like providers of other forms of palliative medicine, have received specialized training in the holistic treatment of their patients. Palliative care providers come from all over the clinic or the hospital. They include doctors, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, chaplains, social workers, and finance specialists. They work together to provide the highest possible level of support for the patient and their loved ones.
The palliative care team usually includes the spouse and family in planning the patient’s care. It is important that no questions go unanswered and nothing that could bring care and comfort to the patient is overlooked.
Most of the time, insurance covers the cost of palliative oncology
Most health insurance plans cover the cost of palliative oncology and other forms of palliative care. Medicare Part B covers the cost of palliative care for Medicare recipients, although sometimes there will be limits on how many days a patient can receive this kind of care. Medicaid limits for palliative care differ from state to state.
If you feel you or someone you love would benefit from palliative care, start by asking your oncologist
As a physician, I would say your best and first source of information about palliative care is your oncologist. Your oncologist understands the course of your disease and can give you specific advice about the best steps throughout your treatment. Two organizations can help you find the palliative care team that will work with your oncologist if this service is unavailable from your hospital. Check out the Center to Advance Palliative Care for a list of providers by state.
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