Page 2 - Palliative Care
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Palliative care
All about living well
When death is near What you can do
Many people prefer to be cared for in their own 1. Be an active participant in your care. Ask
homes even when their disease is advanced and questions. Learn about your cancer. Being well
death is near. Home care support and palliative care informed helps relieve fear, gives you control,
services may help to make this possible. and helps you seek out what is best for you.
In some situations, a person’s needs cannot be met at 2. Don’t isolate yourself. Don’t withdraw from people
home. who care about you. Your needs are not just
medical, but are emotional, spiritual, social and
Hospices and palliative care units have been financial. Reach out for help. Talk to those who
established as sanctuaries sensitive to the specific can help you.
needs of individuals nearing the end of life. These are
facilities, often outside of the hospital setting, in which 3. Have high expectations for your care. If you have
professional help is available to provide continuous a troublesome symptom, tell your doctor. Most
care. The emphasis is on pain and symptom symptoms can be controlled. Symptoms like pain,
management and providing support of the patient nausea, constipation, bladder problems,
and family. It is about living as well as possible. Patients sleeplessness, anxiety, itch, and others are
may be admitted temporarily for symptom control, or treatable.
to stay, if necessary. The cost of most of these services
is covered by your provincial Medicare plan. 4. Ask about non-drug therapies that might help, like:
relaxation or meditation, imagery, music therapy,
massage therapy, distraction, heat, cold or
vibration therapy, acupuncture, TENS
(transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation).
Even when cure is unlikely, much can be done to
help you live well as long as you live. Be informed,
ask questions, seek the help you need. Have high
expectations for your care and your care team will
do their best to meet them.
This publication is produced by
The information in the publication is not intended to convey medical advice or to substitute for direct consultation with a qualified medical
practitioner. The Canadian Urological Association disclaims all liability and legal responsibility howsoever caused, including negligence, for the
information contained in or referenced by this brochure. cua.org 7E-PALE-01-07
© 2014. Canadian Urological Association. All rights reserved.