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
What does palliative care during my cancer treatment do for my family caregivers?
Posted by | caregiving, treatmentPalliative 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(...)
Does palliative care help me with more than cancer pain?
Posted by | caregiving, treatmentWhile 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 can I receive palliative care during my cancer treatment?
Posted by | caregiving, treatmentWhen 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(...)
How do I decide whether to seek palliative care as a cancer patient?
Posted by | caregiving, treatmentWhen 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(...)
What is palliative care and what does it mean for me as a cancer patient?
Posted by | caregiving, treatmentAccording 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(...)
Palliative medicine focus at #ASCO16 meeting
Posted by | treatment, UncategorizedTom 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(...)
Cancer and Palliative Care: More Than a Physical Diagnosis
Posted by | treatment**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(...)
Formerly “Ask a Nurse Practitioner about Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms, Problems, and Concerns”
Posted by | Issues & Perspectives, treatmentThis web page was part of a research study to assess the effectiveness of online support, nurse practitioner Marian Grant, who answered questions on symptoms, treatments and support for pancreatic cancer patients. This page is now closed to questions/comments, but for a list of previously answered questions by Marian Grant, go to the comments section(...)
Managing End-of-Life Care
Posted by | treatmentThis week, many media outlets have reported on findings from a recent study by researchers at Dartmouth College addressing the vast differences in end-of-life care for cancer patients in the U.S. The study addressed concerns that many patients may not receive appropriate end-of-life care, and this care depends heavily on where they are hospitalized.