Understanding Palliative Care for Gynecologic Cancers

Early introduction of palliative care can improve quality of life for patients with gynecologic cancers.

What is Palliative Cancer Surgery and Care?

Palliative care, sometimes called supportive care, is given to relieve side effects and optimize overall functioning and quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease. Specialists prefer to begin this care as early as possible after diagnosis to prevent or treat symptoms.

If a woman is diagnosed with any gynecologic cancer, palliative cancer care means – treating the symptoms that come with cancer and its treatment and making sure that quality of life is the best that it can be during treatment and beyond.

Aspects of Palliative Cancer Care

Our oncology team will be focusing on primarily treating the cancer. And what palliative cancer brings is dedicated attention to everything that comes along, and that includes:

• Side effects of the gynecologic cancer treatment
• Symptoms of the cancer itself
• The emotional weight on a woman and her family, friends and support network from having a cancer diagnosis

With this we spend time to know well about the woman with cancer as an individual and not as just cancer patient – what are her goals, her priorities, etc. So that it helps in making decisions in cancer treatment.

Is there any research that shows palliative care is beneficial?

Research shows that palliative care and its many components are beneficial to patient and family health and well-being. In recent years, some studies have shown that integrating palliative care into a patient’s usual cancer care soon after a diagnosis of advanced cancer can improve their quality of life and mood, and may prolong survival (1, 2). The American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends that all patients with advanced cancer receive palliative care (2).

Clearing up misconceptions about palliative care

There is a major misconception when it comes to palliative care in treating cancer. Most people simply assume they mean the person is now dying. We provide palliative care to our patients to help them with the side effects of their disease and/or treatment.

But in fact, the research studies would suggest that, if anything, patients who are getting good attention to their symptoms and are getting regular palliative care live longer than patients who are not.

So, next time we hear a friend or relative is receiving palliative care for her gynecologic cancer, we should also remember the science and think of the possibilities, accomplishments and high-quality care she may receive.

To know more about palliative care and the treatment approach, contact us.