Palliative Care Must Become a Part of Cancer Care to Improve Mental Health of Patients

In serious illness palliative care helps improve the quality of life of the patient and his family and helps them cope with the trauma associated with the condition. The American Society of Clinical Oncology in 2012 recommended the use of palliative care along with normal cancer care for all terminally ill patients. This was based on seven studies that proved that the combined treatment reduced inpatient mortality, improved use of hospice and intensive care services and lessened the burden on doctors and care givers. Oncologists often associate palliative care with the last stages of the disease; therefore its benefits have not really been noticed. It is now being seen that if palliative care is offered with clinical care to all patients, not only do their mental health improve, their symptoms too are reduced, and they as well as their family can cope better with the emotional distress that the comes with the disease