Palliative Care Associated with Increased Lung Cancer Survival Rate

Posted by Lewisville Flower Mound Oncology Group on November 28th, 2019

Palliative care is used for terminally ill patients. Those patients that went through this type of care had better chances of surviving lung cancer than those who did not. Patients are advised to get palliative care early on when the cancer has been diagnosed.

This eases the process for them as they have additional support other than that of close family members. It is also done by a professional, which is a bonus. Most people get palliative care later on when treatment does not work, and they have been given a timeline to live. But this should not be the case.

Tests were conducted on patients in three stages: those who received palliative care between 0-30 days, 31-90 days and 91 and above days. The study showed that there was a decrease in survival rates for those patients who had care from 31 days onwards after diagnosis. So, the sooner you get care, the better.

The chances of survival kept on decreasing as one postponed getting palliative care. Some doctors have been skeptical of this, saying whether or not you get palliative care, your chances of survival remain the same and that it will probably not change your outcome.

Receiving palliative care has been associated with the place of death. Most likely those who received palliative care lowered the risk of dying because they are comfortable and feel at ease because of the care they receive.

The benefits of palliative care go beyond the patient.

The family is also at ease knowing that their loved one is in the hands of a trained professional receiving care. Studies have also shown that there is an increased rise of lung cancer among women, so it is not only men that experience this problem. Thus, palliative care has proved to be beneficial to both the patient and their family.

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Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group, a division of Choice Cancer Care – is an independently owned and operated oncology practice that is completely focused on unique, comprehensive patient care.