Palliative Care Is About Quality Of Life Throughout The Cancer Journey

A newspaper story last week caught my eye when it headlined: "Senators Revive Push for End-of-Life-Care Planning." It reported on new legislation making the rounds in Washington to address care planning for those with advanced illnesses. You remember "end of life care planning," don't you? It was part of the Affordable Care Act debate several years ago, and quickly became translated into "death panels" where opponents made the argument that the government wanted to help people decide not to receive needed treatment. That was a moment that will live in my memory forever, and it's not a pleasant memory. So here we are with this new bill, and a headline that suggests we may be headed down the same path once again. This time, however, I hope we can have a more rational and appropriate discussion about an issue that is rapidly evolving in cancer care, supported by medical evidence and medical professionals, not to mention organizations like the American Cancer Society who believe the time has come to engage our patients, their families and caregivers, and the nation at large in understanding the need for compassion as we care for patients with serious illness, including cancer. First of all, the bill in question is not just about end of life. It provides the opportunity for patients and their families with advanced illness-such as locally advanced or cancer that has spread to other parts of the body--to meet with a team of health professionals and others-including among them "a c...
Source: Dr. Len's Cancer Blog - Category: Cancer Authors: Tags: Access to care Breast Cancer Cancer Care Cervical Cancer Colon Cancer Lung Cancer Media Other cancers Prostate Cancer Rectal Cancer Research Survivors Treatment Source Type: blogs