Palliative care is given throughout a patient’s experience with
cancer. It should begin at diagnosis and continue through treatment,
follow-up care, and the end of life.
Although any medical professional may provide palliative care
by addressing the side effects and emotional issues of cancer, some have
a particular focus on this type of care. A palliative care specialist
is a health professional who specializes in treating the symptoms, side
effects, and emotional problems experienced by patients. The goal is to
maintain the best possible quality of life.
Often,
palliative care specialists work as part of a multidisciplinary team to
coordinate care. This palliative care team may consist of doctors,
nurses, registered dieticians, pharmacists, and social workers. Many
teams include psychologists or a hospital chaplain as well. Palliative
care specialists may also make recommendations to primary care
physicians about the management of pain and other symptoms. People do
not give up their primary care physician to receive palliative care.
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