Palliative care, or integrative medicine, aims to manage symptoms and provide emotional support to cancer patients with physical and emotional distress. Palliative care can be recommended at any stage of cancer, along with curative therapy. It is often administered to terminally ill patients to improve their quality of life, and therefore, it is also referred to as end-of-life care.
Integrative medicine is often recommended by multidisciplinary teams, which include medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation therapists, psychiatrists, and support staff, who carefully study the patient’s condition and individual case parameters beforehand.
The pain and palliative care team treats pain, nausea, fatigue, and other symptoms. It also takes care of emotional and psychological needs through counseling and support services. Continuous discussion and support enable the patients and their families to make the right decisions for their treatment plans.
Palliative care and pain management are important parts of comprehensive cancer care. It helps patients manage pain that occurs due to the disease itself or as a side effect of treatment. Pain varies at different stages of the disease and requires different treatment methods.
Palliative care and pain management include simple over-the-counter medications for mild pain and advanced and more potent medications for moderate-to-severe pain. Several adjuvant drugs are available, and most of them can be taken with pain medications. Other pain management options include physical therapy, acupuncture, and nerve blocks.
Pain and palliative care can help enhance the quality of life of cancer patients by alleviating symptoms and offering comprehensive support. Physical symptoms are treated with medications, physical therapy, nerve blocks, and acupuncture.
Acupuncture relieves various symptoms, such as pain, nausea, and fatigue, in patients with cancer. For psychological support, patients and their family members are advised to undergo counseling and adopt healthy coping strategies to manage anxiety and depression.
Clear communication is crucial for patients and their families to make informed decisions about their treatment. Family support and end-of-life care provide comfort and much-needed assistance to patients.
Among cancer patients, integrative medicine improves the quality of life by reducing pain caused by the disease or its treatment. Pain scales and other assessment tools guide treatment by developing a customized approach.
The clinic of pain and palliative care develops customized plans based on the type of cancer, its stage, and the patient's preferences. When integrative medicine is recommended, the patient is constantly monitored so that treatments may be adjusted as needed. Psychological support includes counseling and stress-relieving strategies to improve the patient's quality of life.
Opioids are drugs taken for the management of moderate-to-severe pain in patients with cancer during palliative care or pain management. Opioids affect the brain and spinal column receptors, inhibiting the transmission of pain signals. Opioid drugs can be titrated individually based on the intensity and duration of pain.
They come in various forms, such as pills, patches, injections, or liquids, and are used according to patient choices and needs. Doctors ensure a balance between adequate pain control and reduced side effects while prescribing opioids.
Better results in palliative care and pain management are seen when opioids are combined with non-opioid pain medicines, along with physical and psychological interventions. However, despite the benefits of opioids, they have a risk of dependence. It can be managed by providing adequate education to patients regarding the responsible use of opioids. Opioids considerably improve quality of life if administered under medical supervision for palliative pain management.
Helper drugs, also known as adjuvant medications, are an important part of integrative medicine for cancer patients to enhance pain management along with opioids. Helper drugs include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, steroids, muscle relaxants, and anti- anxiety medications.
These drugs generally have different mechanisms, reduce opioid requirements, and manage symptoms such as anxiety and muscle spasms. The helper drugs administered as per the treatment plan improve overall pain control and quality of life for patients.
These drugs ensure comprehensive symptom management in integrative medicine settings.
HCG provides comprehensive pain and palliative care to cancer patients. The hospital follows a multidisciplinary approach, meaning it involves a team of healthcare professionals working together to address the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of cancer patients.
HCG has a collaborative team of doctors, nurses, and psychologists. Each member of the team contributes, using their expertise, to devise personalized pain and palliative care plans for patients.
The palliative pain clinic at HCG uses various strategies to manage pain effectively as part of its palliative care services. Pain relief in palliative care includes prescribing medications such as opioids and adjuvant drugs and performing procedures like nerve blocks or injections. It also involves using non-pharmacological therapies such as physical therapy, acupuncture, or relaxation techniques.
The pain and palliative care clinic at HCG focuses on improving quality of life by managing symptoms like pain, nausea, fatigue, and breathlessness. It also involves providing emotional support through counseling, support groups, and assistance with advance care.
The pain and palliative care clinic at HCG ensures smooth coordination among healthcare providers. It works in collaboration with the departments offering surgical oncology services, radiation oncology services, and medical oncology services to integrate pain and palliative care into the ongoing treatment of patients and help them receive comprehensive care and support throughout their treatment journey.
HCG educates patients and their families about pain management techniques, medication use, and available support services. The hospital also encourages patients to actively participate in their care decisions and manage symptoms effectively at home.
The department of pain and palliative care at HCG specializes in managing cancer- related symptoms. The multidisciplinary team comprises oncologists, pain specialists, nurses, pharmacists, and psychologists, ensuring comprehensive care. HCG offers advanced treatments customized to individual needs, ranging from medications to complementary therapies.
As a single-specialty cancer hospital in India, HCG prioritizes continuity of care, collaborating closely with oncologists to smoothly integrate pain management with cancer treatments. Supportive services like counseling and support groups enhance emotional support for patients and their families, promoting overall well-being and improving quality of life throughout the cancer journey.