palliative care organizations have existed in the US since the 1970s, and they have perfected the art and science of management people at the end of their lives. Most people in the US are somewhat familiar with the kind of end of life care that hospitals provide to patients and their families.
Palliative care, on the other hand, is an emerging field in health care that overlaps somewhat with palliative care but involves important differences worth discussing.
patients and families struggling against mesothelioma can find that their cancer treatment center has a palliative care team or a doctor who specializes in palliative care. If a mesothelioma patient is admitted to hospital and dealing with the effects of their treatment or their disease, his / her oncologist may request a consultation with a physician or hospice team.
What is Palliative Care?
The main goal of palliative care is to help a patient with a serious disease (such as mesothelioma) to feel better. The goal is to prevent or reduce the symptoms of the disease or side effects of treatment. Palliative care is multidisciplinary and focuses on physical comfort, emotional, spiritual and social patient.
When a patient has mesothelioma, there are common symptoms and side effects that impact quality of life, including pain, nausea, peripheral neuropathy induced by chemotherapy (nerve damage ), shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping. Treatments to reduce or prevent these symptoms or side effects is considered palliative.
However, treatment of potentially curative cancer aims to eradicate or completely control the cancer and includes chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and emerging treatments such as immunotherapy. It is important to note that patients can receive both a potentially curative treatment and palliative care at the same time.
A doctor, nurse, counselor or chaplain can provide palliative care, but some vendors specialize in it. Some hospitals have trained palliative care teams working with patients who are struggling with issues such as pain or nausea. Some outpatient cancer centers also have palliative care physicians who work with oncologists to help patients feel better they receive cancer treatment.
What is palliative care?
When someone has a disease that is considered to be terminal and whose life expectancy is expected to be less than six months, palliative care can be offered to the patient and family. If a potentially curative treatment does not work or the risk of harm to the patient with another treatment becomes too large, then it may be time to consider palliative care.
The type of care provided by palliative care organizations is considered palliative in nature as it aims to maximize the quality of life and minimize the symptoms of the disease.
The main difference between hospice and palliative care is no potentially curative treatment is given when a patient is in palliative care. This means that patients in palliative care are not receiving chemotherapy or clinical trials to treat their mesothelioma.
Some types of treatments such as paracentesis or palliative radiotherapy can be offered at the hospital if the goal is to help the patient feel better.
a palliative care team may include doctors, nurses, chaplains, social workers, counselors and volunteers, and palliative care is provided to the patient and family in their home or in a nursing home. Throughout the United States there are hundreds of hospice organizations that offer end of -life care to highly specialized patient.
The past 40 years have seen a dramatic improvement in the way health care teams care for patients who are dealing with a terminal illness. Of course, there will always be a focus on healing and preventing disease, but patients and families also want the best possible quality of life.
Both hospice and palliative care are important treatment modalities that focus on living well with serious diseases
questions about palliative care and palliative care
Q:.? Does private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid pay for palliative care
A: Coverage of palliative care varies by provider, but the care of a palliative care physician is usually covered
Q :.
is it that private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid to pay for palliative care? A: most comprehensive private insurance plans have a provision of palliative care. Medicare also pays for palliative care, and the majority of state programs have coverage for palliative care. Palliative care is usually covered as a package, so that the patient and family do not receive individual bills for each home visit by a doctor, nurse or counselor
Q :. If a new treatment option or a drug becomes available that shows promise to treat mesothelioma, I can come off the palliative and regain potentially curative treatment
? A: Some patients will leave hospice care for a variety of reasons and can return to palliative care if they meet new requirements to have a limited prognosis and terminal illness. Most oncologists will be happy to offer a promising new treatment option for a patient that previously mentioned for palliation
Q:.? How can I find hospice near me
A: You can talk to your doctor about how to find suppliers or palliative care programs in your area. You can also call [[++default_phone_number]] to speak with Karen Selby, a nurse mesothelioma Centre. It can help you find someone in your area
. Q: How can I find hospice organizations near me
? A: The Hospice Foundation of America allows you to search for palliative care organizations in your area. You can also email Karen Selby, a nurse at Asbestos.com that can help you find resources close
Questions and answers online support group in February
Q :. Is drainage of fluid in the lungs considered a palliative treatment
? A: Yes, it is considered palliative because the procedure relieves symptoms. The procedure is called thoracentesis when performed on the lungs. Paracentesis removes fluid from the peritoneum, the abdominal wall. These procedures can effectively relieve pain and improve lung function
Q:.? What are the symptoms of fluid in the lungs that indicate a person would benefit from thoracentesis
A: When someone experiences pain or discomfort when breathing or make simple gestures, may be time to discuss a thoracentesis with your doctor. The amount of liquid accumulated in the lungs will also influence the decision of your doctor to recommend a thoracentesis. If you experience chest pain or trouble breathing, your doctor, especially if your symptoms increase
Q:.? Is peripheral neuropathy a side effect of mesothelioma
A: Peripheral neuropathy (numbness, tingling or burning sensations felt in the hands, feet or members) is often a side effect of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a common treatment for mesothelioma. Not all people who undergo chemotherapy experience neuropathy.
Effective treatments are available to relieve neuropathy, such as steroids and drugs against pain. Patients who live in states where medical marijuana is legal can consider grass for neuropathy. Many cancer patients say marijuana is the most effective treatment they found neuropathy. Vitamin E may have a preventive effect for neuropathy and can be discussed with your oncologist before treatment.
This material was partitioned in 2014, mesothelioma online support group on 12 February.
If you have questions Monitoring anything discussed here, you can call [[++default_phone_number]] to speak with Karen Selby, our nurse on staff.
do not miss the next online support group, on Wednesday, March 12. Register today!
