Palliative care
Improving quality of life for patients with a life-threatening disease
Τhere is an end to cure, there is no end to care. We apply the multidisciplinary approach and provide our patients with specialised, dignified and personalised palliative care either in their own homes or in the hospital. We are led by empathy and extend our support to the patients' caregivers and family members.
At Multidisciplinary Cancer Care (MCC), the palliative care team works with patients fighting a life-threatening disease, and their caregivers, to provide physical, mental, emotional and practical comfort. Palliative care is provided by an interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses and other specially trained healthcare professionals who approach terminally-ill patients with dedication, empathy and respect.
Palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and their families through early prevention and relief of pain.¹
¹Vinches M, Neven A, Fenwarth L, Terada M, Rossi G, Kelly S, Peron J, Thomaso M, Grønvold M, De Rojas T. Clinical research in cancer palliative care: a metaresearch analysis. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2020 Jun;10(2):249-258. doi: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2019-002086. Epub 2020 Mar 24. PMID: 32209567.
Steps
1
Our pathologist-oncologist, responsible for coordinating palliative care, will discuss your symptoms, current treatments and how cancer affects you and your family. Together, you will develop a plan to prevent and relieve pain and improve your daily life. This plan will be implemented in coordination with your primary care team in a way that works in a complementary way to any other therapy you are receiving (creation of your digital patient record at MCC).
2
Our multidisciplinary team will assist you in managing the side effects of your cancer and its therapy, giving you psychological and emotional support, and providing training on best practices in palliative care.
3
The MCC supportive care team, with your consent, will provide feedback about your health progress to the coordinating physician. Your digital record will be updated accordingly.
4
The coordinating physician will analyse this data and discuss it with you and your caregivers to optimise your support plan. At MCC, we are driven by the health goals of the patients themselves.
What to expect
A prerequisite is the patient's autonomy in decision-making.
Fostering the conditions for the expression of the spiritual and existential concerns of the patient.
With the patient's consent: inclusion of a relative or legal representative in the communication.
Promoting open dialogue between the patient and the patient’s family members with the help of a mediator from the palliative care team.
We are by your side to give you access to a multidisciplinary palliative care team to help you and your caregivers manage the emotional and physical challenges of the disease.
Our comprehensive care team
Clinical psychology
Family therapy
Physiotherapy
Lymphedema physiotherapy
Osteopathy, when permitted
Speech therapy
Ergotherapy
Nutrition counselling
Acupuncture
Social worker
Patient support groups