What is the Difference Between Remission and Paliative Care?

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When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, it is a life-altering experience. The patient and their family must adjust to new routines and expectations. To help patients cope with their diagnosis, doctors may recommend additional support services or programs. These services are known as palliative care, which aims to improve the quality of life for patients, regardless of the cancer treatment outcome. There are different types of palliative care that can be used to assist people with advanced cancer or another serious illness. While remission and palliative care are often used in combination, they are two separate programs with different goals and outcomes. This article will explain the differences between remission and palliative care so you can make informed decisions about who will best meet your needs if you are ever faced with a similar situation.

What is Remission Care?

Remission care is a specific type of palliative care designed to manage symptoms related to cancer. The goal of remission care is to maintain or prolong a patient’s remission as long as possible. If a patient experiences a relapse, doctors may recommend additional treatment. If you are receiving remission care, your doctor may recommend a change in your treatment plan, such as a reduced drug dosage. It is important to understand that remission care is not a cure. It is a plan to prolong the time your cancer is under control. Palliative care services are typically recommended when a patient’s cancer has progressed beyond treatment options that can cure the disease. It is important to understand that receiving palliative care does not mean that the patient has given up. It is a way to help manage symptoms that arise with advanced stages of the disease. It is also a way to ensure that the patient continues to enjoy life as much as possible.

What is Palliation Care?

When a patient is receiving palliative care, it means that their cancer has progressed. Palliation care is designed to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Palliation care may also include support related to pain and psychological issues. Palliative care services are often provided at home as an alternative to hospice care. The goal of palliative care is to improve the patient’s quality of life. Doctors may recommend palliative care when a patient’s disease has progressed beyond treatment options that can cure the disease. Palliative care may also be recommended when a patient has another serious illness like a neurological disorder, heart disease, or kidney disease. Palliative care is not about curing a disease, but rather about improving the patient’s quality of life as the disease progresses.

How Are They Different?

A major difference between remission and palliative care is that remission care often seeks to cure or treat the disease. Palliative care, on the other hand, seeks to treat the symptoms of a disease that cannot be cured. When it comes to treating symptoms, palliative care specialists are trained to address the whole person: body, mind, and emotions. Palliative care providers can also help patients make decisions about their end-of-life care. Palliative care providers work closely with the patient’s oncologist to understand the treatment and decide how best to manage symptoms. Palliative care specialists are not always necessary, and sometimes patients can receive both palliative and remission care from the same doctor.

The similarities between remission and palliative care

One similarity between remission and palliative care is that they are both intended to improve the quality of a patient’s life. This is done by managing symptoms and helping the patient cope with their diagnosis. Palliative care providers are often able to provide the same assistance as remission care providers. For example, a palliative care psychologist can help patients with symptoms related to depression and anxiety. Another similarity is that both programs can be used in combination with each other or with treatment.

Key Takeaways

The major difference between remission and palliative care is that remission care seeks to cure the disease, whereas palliative care seeks to treat the symptoms of a disease that cannot be cured. Palliative care providers are able to assist with symptoms related to both physical and mental health. Palliative care can be provided alongside remission care or even as a substitute when symptoms are too difficult to manage. It is important to understand that palliative care and remission care are two separate programs with different goals and outcomes. This article will help you to understand the differences between remission and palliative care so you can make informed decisions about which support services are best for you.