Perspectives from those who live it every day.
Oncologists who practice and teach at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center are calling on medical oncology training programs to invest substantially more time educating physicians about palliative care and how to talk to patients about “bad news.” Click here to read more
In the latest On Target podcast, Dr Akila Viswanathan is joined by Dr Sara Alcorn to discuss the treatment of sarcoma and explain the use of radiation in palliative care.
Patients with advanced cancer should see a dedicated palliative care team composed of a doctor, advanced practice nurse, social worker and chaplain starting early in their diagnosis, according to guidelines issued by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), says the Johns Hopkins doctor who is the senior author. These guidelines, say Thomas J. Smith, […]
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 […]
Tom Smith, M.D., wants cancer patients to live well. Fewer side effects, better quality of life, more joyful time with family…these are among the primary goals, he says, of palliative medicine. Researchers have studied the impact of palliative medicine programs on patients’ outcomes, and results show that patients benefit, says Smith. “A lot of aggressive […]
**This post was contributed by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center development staff member Allison M. Rich. Cancer is more than just a physical diagnosis. Here at Hopkins, we know that preserving the dignity of our patients means providing them with the tools they need to confront the impacts that cancer has on all aspects of […]