What is palliative care in cancer, and is it the same as hospice?
According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), palliative care is care meant to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease, such as cancer. It addresses the whole person, aiming to prevent or treat symptoms, side effects, and related psychological, social, and spiritual concerns. The World Health Organization (WHO) similarly describes it as improving the quality of life of patients (adults and children) and their families facing life-threatening illness, relieving suffering through early identification and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial, or spiritual problems. Palliative care is not the same as hospice. NCI notes anyone can receive it regardless of age or stage of disease, and it can be given with or without curative care, so cancer treatment may continue. Hospice care begins when curative treatment is no longer the goal and quality of life is the sole focus. This is general information, not personal medical advice.
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