Perspectives from those who live it every day.
The Harry J Duffey Family Patient and Family Services Program at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center has compiled a list of events, activities, and resources available during the month of April. This month includes access to support groups, assistance with making healthcare decisions, nutritional advice, online yoga classes, and much more. Click here to […]
Michael Carducci, M.D., is the associate cancer center director for clinical research within the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the regional research director for the Greater Washington, D.C., area for the Kimmel Cancer Center. In his many years as an oncologist, Carducci has expertise in various types of cancer including bladder, kidney, prostate and […]
Bright and early at 6 am on April 16th, Harry J. Duffey Family Patient and Family Services staff members greeted patients clad in t-shirts encouraging them to learn about advance directives. The effort was part of the National Healthcare Decisions Day “Start a Conversation Project” and is aimed at helping people understand advance directives and […]
The American Cancer Society forecasts that nearly 1.7 million new cancer cases (more than 4,600 each day) and nearly 596,000 cancer deaths will occur in the United States in one year. An emerging driver of the cancer epidemic is the aging of the population. Read Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson’s editorial in Cancer Today, […]
Palliative care addresses symptoms and distress accompanying serious illnesses. The field is emerging as a vital medical specialty in the multidisciplinary treatment of cancer. Better access to expert palliative care for all cancer patients must be a priority. Read Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson’s editorial in Cancer Today, a publication of the American Association […]
Palliative care isn’t just for cancer patients. The palliative care team can support your family and caregivers as well as you during your cancer treatment. Our expert team can provide your family and caregivers: A communication bridge to facilitate communication between you, your family and your treatment team; Relief for the stress, worry and sadness […]
While pain relief is important, relief of other symptoms such as nausea, fatigue and shortness of breath also may be a part of your palliative care. You might seek palliative care for emotional, social or spiritual support, rather than for your physical pain or symptoms. Care teams include experts such as physicians, nurses, social workers […]
When you’re a cancer patient, every day matters. To ease your symptoms and stress, you may receive palliative care, if appropriate, right from the time of your diagnosis. You also can ask your doctor or nurse for your palliative care options at any point during your treatment, since palliative care can be coupled with curative […]
When you’re considering palliative care as part of your cancer treatment, consider these criteria for deciding whether it’s right for you. How severe is your illness? Palliative care addresses serious or chronic diseases, such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, and Alzheimer’s, among many other diseases. Do you need emotional, physical or spiritual support? Palliative care isn’t just for […]
According to experts at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, palliative care is “ease without curing.” Its focus is improving the quality of life for seriously ill patients, helping you to carry on with your daily life while you undergo treatment, and helping you tolerate medical treatments. Palliative care includes three key approaches: • pain […]