The Role Of Cancer Support Treatment In Improving The Patient's Quality Of Life

A cancer diagnosis is the worst nightmare. It affects the emotional health of not only the patient but also caregivers and family members. During this life-changing experience, it's normal to experience distress, anxiety, and even depression. More importantly, you have to live with mild, moderate, or severe cancer pain. Therefore, apart from the normal cancer treatment, you also need cancer support treatments.

What Is Cancer Support Treatment?

Most people are familiar with the common types of cancer treatment, including:

  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiotherapy
  • Surgery
  • Hormone therapy
  • Immunotherapy

As you know, cancer and its treatment cause numerous side effects and physical symptoms. Also, the patient experiences financial, emotional, and social effects. All these effects are addressed through cancer support treatment, popularly known as palliative care.

So, apart from working with doctors to cure cancer or prolong life, you also need support to relieve the side effects of curative treatments and pain. The goal of support treatment is to improve the patient's overall quality of life.

Why Is Cancer Support Treatment Important?

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 40 million people require palliative care each year, but only 14% get it. Why is this support treatment so essential?

Take a moment and think about radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Although the two are effective in destroying cancer cells and shrinking tumors, they have severe side effects, including:

  • Loss of appetite
  • Severe pain
  • Constipation
  • Dry mouth
  • Skin burns
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue

Due to advancements in cancer treatment, doctors can give patients a longer life. However, the disease and treatment can cause immense pain, among other negative side effects. Support treatment comes in to give the patient an option for symptom and pain management.

If you have cancer, every day counts. As you face the disease, controlling pain and other symptoms makes each day a more positive experience.

Is Cancer Support Treatment for Patients Only?

No, providing support for caregivers is also vital. This treatment aims to manage the social and emotional needs of the patient's relatives and caregivers. Taking care of a cancer patient is not an easy task. Thus, the caregiver's health and well-being must also be addressed.

In most cases, caregivers dedicate all their energy and time to taking care of the patient, neglecting their own health. Consequently, they feel overwhelmed and exhausted, resulting in stress, anxiety, and depression. So, cancer support treatment ensures that caregivers are healthy enough to care for the patient effectively.

Conclusion

Cancer support treatment focuses on supporting patients and caregivers. The support's main goal is to treat physical symptoms while providing bereavement counseling and addressing practical needs at the same time. When suffering is relieved, the patient's quality of life is significantly improved.

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