With great advancements in the field of oncology taking place, one area which is helping patients even more is palliative care. Medical technology has improved to the extent of surgical oncologists using minimalistic invasive procedures to remove tumors. However, the relatively softer approaches like palliative care, which essentially tries to lower the severity of the illness and its symptoms, is creating huge waves in medical circles. Traditional approaches in palliative care include attempts to delay and stop or even reverse the effects of any illness. Palliative care works wonders especially in terminal cancers.
In a recent study of people diagnosed with lung cancer, palliative care, when administered along with regular cancer treatments, helped patients enjoy a better quality of life. Those patients also lived a longer life. Palliative care is wider in its approach and encompasses not only the physical symptoms, but also the emotional and spiritual aspects of the problems. Palliative care can bring together medical staff, social workers and even chaplains to ensure cancer patients and their immediate families cope better.
Cancer is a very debilitating disease, a fact only too well known to oncologists. The emotional trauma it causes is heavy. However, this particular study showed that patients undergoing palliative care had 50% less chances of becoming clinically depressed. The study also discovered another remarkable fact. Typically, cancer patients try and choose aggressive, albeit futile, efforts to prolong their lives. People undergoing palliative care were less likely to choose such drastic steps.
One of the most important aspects of any terminal illness is that it affects the quality of life of the patients. Palliative care seeks to address this issue. The significance of the quality of life has gone all the way to the Senate with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which is proposing to expand palliative care in America. It brings about a much needed dignity in an otherwise undignified condition.