What is Palliative therapy?

It is the treatment of symptoms.

Tumors cause symptoms by their physical presence. They occupy space that is not meant for them.

They cause

- Pressure on nerves, leading to pain or numbness

- Obstruction of surrounding organs, e.g.

o The stomach, not giving it adequate room for expansion to accommodate meals
o The colon, causing constipation
o The lung, impeding breathing
o The urinary tract, causing kidney problems
o The bile duct, causing jaundice and liver problems
o The brain, causing headache

- Weight loss and debility

- Depression and inability to function

- Inability to work

In addition to treating the Cancer, Palliative Care helps to take care of these symptoms with

- Pain management with medicines, nerve blocks, intravenous or subcutaneous drips

- Bowel management, sometimes requiring a combination of stool softeners and laxatives

- Nutritional support with booster drinks, and medicines to stimulate appetite

- Breathing support with oxygen, suction of secretions, nebulizer treatments

Psychosocial support with counseling, family meetings and antidepressants

This treatment can be a service tied in with regular Oncology Care, or be provided by a special team working closely with the Oncology team, depending on the resources in your community