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Choosing palliative care; what is your experience?
Cancer: Managing Symptoms | Last Active: Dec 18, 2024 | Replies (39)Comment receiving replies
Your decision makes a lot of sense to me and I think I'd do the same. I'm 70, with breast cancer, but when I look down the road I don't see aggressive treatments in part because of some of the co-morbities you mention (and others too!). My question is--why palliative care instead of hospice? I was a hospice volunteer for a few years, and used it for my mother-in-law. Hospice stops hospital visits and interventions. Do you currently prefer to keep seeing your doctors? In that case, palliative care might work better. Both hospice and palliative care should offer pain control when needed and some home visits. If I might ask, what is your living situation? Supportive for you? I think I might talk to my PCP about which option is better--also, services vary a bit from place to place. Check in again when you feel like it and tell us how you are doing.
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I am doing great; no pain, no symptoms of my cancer. When I was in the hospital I had been losing blood via the colon. I was totally unaware of what transpired the first few days though I was answering questions appropriately.
When I was leaving the hospital I realized I didn't know enough about my status and I needed clarification from a GI oncologist and my PCP. I have now met with both of those and will be meeting with someone from hospice this coming week. When I saw the PCP a week ago my hemoglobin was 12. I still need clarification from hospice and assume I will soon make arrangements with hospice.
My daughter and son agree with my choices, live close by and have situations which make it possible to be involved with my needs. I expect to transfer to my daughter's home when I need greater care than I can receive in my own home and bed. I hated the hospital bed with its buzzers going off when I wanted to sit on edge of the bed in the middle of the night! I'm in a good place now, comfortable and w/o fear.