Palliative care, sometimes called comfort care or supportive care, is an approach to care that focuses on improving the quality of life for people who are living with serious diseases like lung cancer.
What is Palliative Care?
The goal of palliative care is to help prevent or treat symptoms of serious illness and side effects of treatment, including pain and stress. But it also focuses on supporting the psychological, social, and spiritual needs of people living with lung cancer. It is often recommended as a standard part of cancer care and can be provided at any time during your cancer experience. Early involvement of palliative care specialists may be associated with better outcomes.
Palliative care is not the same as hospice care, does not mean treatment is not working, and is not a replacement for treatment. Hospice care is given to a person who is in the last phases of an incurable disease to treat the symptoms of the disease, rather than the disease itself. Palliative care can begin when treatment starts and continue throughout your care, while hospice care begins after active treatment has ended.
What is Included in Palliative Care?
Lung cancer and its treatments can be painful, emotionally draining, and challenging. A palliative care approach focuses on helping people living with lung cancer and their loved ones find relief and support in several areas including:
- Physical pain management: Whether you are experiencing pain from the lung cancer itself or side effects from your treatment, palliative care is designed to help relieve the pain and discomfort associated with your lung cancer. It may help with fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath and even insomnia
- Emotional and mental distress: Being diagnosed with lung cancer may cause anxiety, depression, and fear for people living with the disease and their loved ones. Palliative care specialists work with you and your loved ones to provide resources to support your emotional and mental well-being
- Support for Loved Ones: Lung cancer may be challenging for loved ones too. Palliative care specialists may provide loved ones with the support they need. That could mean helping loved ones understand the goals of your lung cancer treatment or navigating the complexities of the healthcare system. It could also mean helping loved ones find a way to manage their new role of caring for someone with lung cancer while balancing work, household and other obligations
What You Should Know About Palliative Care
You may have a lot of questions about palliative care. We're here to help answer some of them so you and your loved ones know what to expect.
- Who offers palliative care?
Palliative care is usually provided by a multidisciplinary healthcare team that specializes in delivering care to you and your loved ones throughout the cancer journey. Often, palliative care specialists work together with your oncology care team, and may include a doctor, nurse, social worker, dietician, spiritual provider, patient navigator and more. Many can also address symptoms and problems that are harder to manage, like severe pain, family distress, insurance issues, or complex medical problems. - Where will I receive palliative care?
Palliative care is provided in clinics, hospitals, some long-term care facilities, palliative care centers and in the home. Talk to your doctor to learn more about palliative care options near you. - How do I pay for palliative care?
Palliative care can be covered by both government and private insurance plans, but it may be part of chronic care or long-term care coverage. Sometimes it's included in the hospice care part of coverage depending on how the health plan describes what palliative care is. Check with your insurance provider to see how it describes palliative care and for details on what is covered, including any medications you might be prescribed or special types of care.
Talking to Your Healthcare Team
If you are struggling with physical pain, treatment side effects, or mental and emotional distress, palliative care may help. Talk to your healthcare team to create a plan that works with your treatment goals. Some doctors will immediately recommend palliative care, while others may not mention it at all. It's important to ask about palliative care treatment options.