• Scope: Palliative care is intended to enhance the quality of life for patients dealing with serious illnesses, including cancer. It can be administered alongside curative treatments or as the primary focus of care.

• Holistic Approach: Palliative care is a holistic approach that looks at the patient as a whole, not just as a medical case. It aims to prevent or alleviate symptoms and side effects of the disease and its treatments while also addressing psychological, social, and spiritual concerns.

• Settings: Palliative care can be provided in various settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, or at a patient's home, under the guidance of licensed healthcare providers.

• Inclusivity: Palliative care is available to individuals of all ages and at any stage of their disease. It's not limited by age or disease progression.

• Specialists: Palliative care is often delivered by palliative care specialists, healthcare practitioners who have received specialized training and certification in this field. They offer comprehensive care for both patients and their families or caregivers.

• Caregiver Support: In addition to patient care, palliative care specialists also provide support to caregivers, helping them manage the physical and emotional challenges they face while caring for their loved ones.

• Communication: Palliative care specialists facilitate communication among the healthcare team, patients, and their families. They help initiate discussions about the patient's goals of care, including the consideration of advance directives.

Palliative care specialists address a wide range of issues, tailored to each patient's unique needs:

• Physical: Management of physical symptoms like pain, fatigue, nausea, and shortness of breath is a central aspect of palliative care.

• Emotional and Coping: Palliative care helps patients and families cope with the emotional challenges associated with a cancer diagnosis, such as depression, anxiety, and fear.

• Spiritual: Palliative care recognizes the importance of spiritual well-being and helps individuals explore their beliefs and values, finding meaning and acceptance in their situation.

• Caregiver Needs: Palliative care acknowledges the critical role of caregivers and offers support to help them navigate their own emotional and practical challenges.

• Practical Needs: Palliative care specialists assist with practical matters, including financial concerns, legal issues, insurance questions, and employment matters.

• Goals of Care: Discussions about the patient's goals of care, including advance directives, are an integral part of palliative care. These discussions involve guiding communication among family members, caregivers, and the oncology care team.

Patients and their families can initiate discussions about palliative care with their oncologist or a member of the oncology care team. Based on their physical and emotional needs, patients may be referred to a palliative care specialist to receive the comprehensive support and care tailored to their unique circumstances.