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Palliative Care, Pain Management, End of Life Issues, and Support Presented by Paul Glare, Nessa Coyle, and Carol Krueger |
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Many patients are understandably concerned about the possibility of experiencing pain and discomfort during treatment for cancer. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's Pain and Palliative Care Service is committed to making sure that no patient, regardless of stage of disease, suffers from avoidable discomfort.
Palliative care is aimed at relieving suffering and improving quality of life in patients who are also receiving treatment for their primary condition. Such care addresses physical symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, and nausea, but also non-physical causes of pain, such as sadness, depression, and anxiety.
Palliative care is not the same as hospice, which provides end-of-life care at home for patients who no longer wish to pursue acute care. A major priority of the service is to incorporate the principles of palliative care into the care of all patients with cancer from the time of diagnosis, not only in the setting of advanced or terminal disease. Palliative care focuses on the whole person, encompassing body and mind to enhance comfort and preserve dignity.
