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What Does Giving Up Really Mean?
I read an excellent recent article on the pallimed website regarding this common question of “Am I giving up on fighting cancer when I choose hospice?” In it the author Amy Velasquez RN BSN OCN, a palliative care nurse specializing in helping cancer patients, discusses this weighty issue: In my line of work with cancer patients, they have taught me strength, courage and most of all faith. Our goal as the palliative care team is to find out what the patient’s absolute end goal is, and is it attainable? A patient that has stage 4 lung cancer has been diagnosed with a cancer that is termed “incurable.” So does that mean if they die from this…
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Seven Ways to Get Better Cancer Care
Studies have shown wide variances in cancer care exist across the US, here are 7 tips for Receiving Better Cancer Care: PBS News Hour Story Cancer is personal, and so is your care. Be your own guide. Go for the cure… …But understand that more is not always better. Palliative and hospice care can help people live longer. Conversations matter. Don’t take quality for granted. “Don’t confuse palliative and hospice care with giving up hope of living longer. In actuality, patients with invasive cancers who receive palliative care along with cancer treatments tend to enjoy better quality of life and live longer. Similarly, cancer patients who receive hospice care tend to live longer than…