Palliative Care

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is care that is provided to improve the quality of life for patients who have a serious illness, such as cancer. It not only provides care to patients, but also to their families. It is a holistic approach to address symptom assessment and management that may include pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, constipation, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and loss of appetite. Palliative care works to facilitate communication among patient, families, and providers while assisting with decision-making and establishing goals of care. In addition, it aims to relieve stress and worry by addressing the emotional, spiritual, and practical needs of both patient and family.

Who Can Receive It?

Palliative care is available to any patient of Virginia Oncology Associates. Palliative care can begin at diagnosis or be added at any time during your care.

Can I Still Receive Cancer Treatment?

Palliative care does not replace your cancer treatment. You may continue to follow with your regular physician and healthcare team while receiving palliative care. However, if there comes a time when further treatment is not warranted, then palliative care becomes the focus of care to maintain the highest quality of life.

Who Do I Ask?

Consult your physician or someone from your healthcare team.

Issues Addressed

• Physical - Common symptoms that you may experience are pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, constipation, shortness of breath, and insomnia. These symptoms may be relieved with medications, physical therapy, deep breathing techniques, and nutrition therapy. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery may also relieve pain due to tumor.
• Emotional - Patients and families can experience a multitude of emotions that may develop with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Some emotional changes that you or your family members may experience are fear, anger, depression, grief, anxiety, disbelief, and relief. The palliative care can provide counseling, hold family meetings, and refer to support groups or mental health professionals.
• Practical - Many questions and concerns regarding financial and legal issues arise from cancer patients. The palliative care team can assist with coordination of care by directing families to appropriate resources for financial counseling or identifying local resources. VOA has specially trained employees to assist with Advanced Care Planning. Advanced Care Planning is a very important aspect of your care since it allows you to identify your values and quality of life with those closest to you. It allows you to state your wishes and values and decide who in your life you wish to speak for you if you are unable to speak for yourself.
• Spiritual - With a cancer diagnosis, some patients grow stronger in their faith, while others begin to question their faith. The palliative care team can assist with helping you explore your beliefs and values so that you are able to have a sense of peace with your situation.

Will Insurance Cover This?

Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers typically cover palliative care services. If you are unsure, we would be happy to have you meet with one of our patient benefit representative

Listen to our podcast episode about palliative care.

On this episode of Cancer Care Connections, Dr. Scott Kruger, hematologist oncologist, and Dawn Quinn, palliative care program coordinator, for Virginia Oncology Associates clear up the misconceptions about palliative care and discuss how important it can be during a patient's cancer journey. They also briefly discuss the differences between palliative care and hospice care, as well as the importance of having an advanced directive. 

Additional Information:

• What is Hospice?
• What to Expect at the End-of-Life?

Contact