What are the treatment goals of Palliative Medicine?
Where can Palliative Care Services be provided?
Palliative Care is a term that is used to describe the professionals who work as a team to support individuals who cannot be cured of their illness. This team consists of physicians, nurses, social workers, spiritual care specialists, and others. They focus on relief of suffering by meeting the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of the person and the family.
Many times, a person diagnosed with a life threatening illness has a hard time finding meaning and purpose in life. Palliative Care providers can help the person and their family address issues, expectations, needs, hopes and fears. When receiving palliative care, many people experience an improved quality of life and reduced anxiety once symptoms have been well managed.
Maintaining a person’s comfort and dignity is the major focus of Palliative Medicine. Palliative Medicine provides care, comfort and support to individuals and families who are living with or dying from an illness. Its purpose is to relieve suffering in order to improve a person’s quality of life. Palliative medicine provides medical treatments that focus on symptoms rather than curing illness.
What are the treatment goals of Palliative Medicine?
Rather than curing a person from a disease, the goal of Palliative Medicine is to help relieve the person of the symptoms they may be experiencing. These symptoms can come from the disease itself, or from treatments that are used to treat the disease. Medication, radiation therapy, and other complementary therapies are used to manage many different symptoms. Some of these symptoms include:
- Pain
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea/vomiting
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Depression and anxiety
When death is imminent, treatments are provided so that a person can die in a peaceful and dignified way.
The team at the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre will support both the individual and the family members. Information about a person’s illness will be given in a supportive and compassionate manner. In sharing information, people’s wishes will be respected in terms of how much information they want and the manner in which they want to receive it.
As a person’s goals, needs and expectations change, the services provided by Palliative Care will also be modified in order to address these issues.
Where can Palliative Care Services be provided?
Palliative Care can be offered anywhere a person faces a life-threatening illness. It can be provided at home, in hospital, in outpatient clinics, in long term care facilities and in other specialized units.
Hope is always there…
When a person realizes that a cure cannot happen, it is possible to reframe hope to include realistic goals. These goals can include:
- Serenity and inner peace;
- Sharing good times with family and friends;
- Passing a legacy of strength and courage on to those they leave behind.
It is important to talk about feelings, concerns and goals.
For more information of support, contact the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre's Palliative Care Team. They are there to support you through this journey.
For more information on Palliative Care Services within the Southwest Region:
Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre Palliative Care Services
519-685-8500 extension 57930 or extension 57918
Palliative Medicine Outpatient Clinic for Oncology Patients
Every Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre
A referral is required from a family physician, surgeon or oncologist. For more information call New Patient Referral at 519-685-8600 extension 58602.
Care in the Community
You may also contact the Community Care Access centre that is close to your community.
Helpful Links
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
