Many people may think that palliative care is only suitable for terminal cancer patients and those who are near death. However, in reality, palliative care can assist a wide range of patients with illnesses and can begin as early as the initial stages of a serious illness.
What is palliative care?
When it comes to patients receiving palliative care, the general public may imagine hopeless patients waiting for death, near death, unable to receive any care or treatment. But in fact, we can help and relieve various symptoms that occur, even if we cannot completely eliminate the disease through palliative care.
Palliative care is care focused on improving the quality of life for patients and their families, helping to reduce suffering physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. It can be provided alongside primary treatments aimed at eliminating the disease, always considering the needs and wishes of the patient and their family.
Palliative care is not only for end-stage patients but is care at various levels of illness. Palliative care can begin as soon as a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness is made, integrated with primary treatments aimed at eliminating the disease. Its role may gradually increase over time if the disease progresses, or sometimes it helps restore health after the patient has received treatment and the disease is controlled or gone.
Family… plays an important role in palliative care
“When one person is physically ill, the whole family is emotionally ill.” It is undeniable that if one family member is seriously ill, it affects the mental state of other family members as well. Palliative care therefore covers both the patient and the family, including caregivers. Family members may participate and influence decisions regarding care options and treatment planning because they are close to the patient and may understand the patient’s true feelings and needs better than medical personnel.
Additionally, when the patient passes away, the family members also need psychological care to cope with grief after losing a loved one.
Diseases that should receive palliative care
Many people think that palliative care is only suitable for cancer patients, and quite a few believe it is only appropriate for terminal cancer patients. However, in reality, both cancer patients and patients with other chronic life-threatening illnesses should receive palliative care, such as patients with chronic kidney failure, dementia, chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and so on.
Currently, palliative care is becoming increasingly popular, with many patients and families beginning to understand its role and importance more and more. If you or someone close to you is interested in palliative care or wants more information, you may ask the doctor or nurse in charge or a healthcare facility that provides palliative care for appropriate advice and treatment.
Dr. Nilawan Nimmanworawong
Family Medicine Specialist
Cancer Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital
