Page 1 - Palliative Care

Urological Health
Palliative care
All about living well
CIC is a safe and effective way of emptying the bladder when it fails to empty completely on
its own. Many men find that their health and quality of life are improved with CIC.
ife may continue for many months or even years
L when illness is unlikely to be cured and is expected
to progress. During this time measures to control the
disease, treat symptoms, and maximize quality of life,
are called palliative care.
The word palliate means relieve. Palliative care
accepts death as a natural part of life. It seeks neither
to hasten death nor to prolong the dying process
but to improve the quality of one’s journey toward
expected death. Good palliative care involves close
cooperation and communication between physicians
including your family doctor, your urologist, your
medical or radiation oncologist, and, when needed,
a palliative care specialist. Together with nurses,
pharmacists, nutritionists, social workers, clergy and
others, they will try to meet your particular needs.
Palliative care is all about living well.
Palliative care is often introduced at the same time
as treatments continue to control the disease or
even when they offer a chance of cure. It addresses
physical symptoms as well as emotional, spiritual,
and family concerns. Seeking good palliative care of
any symptoms that are troublesome is not “giving in”
or “giving up”, it is striving for the best quality of life
achievable.
When illness progresses, it can be frightening. Fear
can lead to feelings of denial, anger and depression.
It may also interfere with your understanding of your
condition, reporting any symptoms, and getting the
care that you need. This should not happen to you.
Myths about pain
Myth: Most cancer patients die with terrible pain.
Truth: Cancer pain can be prevented and treated in
most with the use of various effective treatments.
Myth: Morphine is used when death is near. It is
addictive, makes you drowsy and confused, and
makes you die sooner.
Truth: Morphine and similar drugs called opioids are
usually highly effective with few side effects. They can
be taken for months or years, and, when prescribed
appropriately, they are not addictive. Their regular use
can prevent pain, rather than having to respond to it.
Good pain control prolongs life and promotes quality
of living.
Myth: If I take morphine now, it won’t work when my
pain gets really bad.
Truth: Prolonged, poorly controlled pain makes good
pain control more difficult to achieve later. Many
other drugs can be used alone or in combination with
morphine to reduce side effects, improve pain relief
and reduce the need for morphine.
Managing other cancer symptoms
Effective treatment is available to treat most cancer
symptoms including bowel or bladder problems,
poor appetite, sleeping difficulty, anxiety and others.
Discuss your symptoms with your doctor.
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