Video Q&A about Palliative Care

Is it more appointments by having palliative care?

I am receiving palliative care for liver cancer. I received my first y90 treatment on Sept. 16, 2017. I am going for MRI on Oct. 13th. I also am curious to know if I am wasting what time I have left on Dr. visits. Radiation treatments, MRI's, blood work etc. They have given me no false hope from the beginning of my first diagnosis. The Radiation Dr. said one time. It could lead to curative treatment. Am I just being strung along for the sake of making money? I want to be treated as a human being. Not as a number who has insurance. Please be straight with me. Thanks

Are you still enjoying life when not at appointments? You always have the option to quit receiving care. I'm also receiving palliative care for bile duct cancer. I'm fully aware I can quit treatment any time I want, but so far my quality of life is good enough I am choosing to continue treatment. I had a really bad stretch last winter that I never want to experience again. But now I know what I am willing to go through, and what I am not. I have very good doctors who always tell me I have a choice, so I never feel like a 'number' who has insurance. Good luck to you - I hope you find answers to provide you some peace as you go through this. Kris

Thank You Kris. I have had a few boo-hoo days lately. You are correct. I do have choices. I need to keep that in mind. Thanks for putting me in check. All the best to you also. I am looking forward to the webnair coming soon.
Thanks again, and again the best to you also.

When I was in the local hospital with an HE episode someone from palliative care came by and gave me her card. Would palliative care have been appropriate for me? Not knowing much about it I thought it was a step before hospice and did not feel I needed that. I was functioning quite well when I did not have an HE episode and those were kept at bay quite well with lactulose and xifaxan.
JK

Hi JK, @contentandwell

Palliative care is for anyone, at any stage, of a serious illness. They help coordinate care and help the patient achieve as much comfort as possible. Unlike hospice care, you don't have to be in the latter stage of a disease. Here is an article from Mayo's website, http://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/general-internal-medicine/palliative-care-minnesota/overview.

Teresa

Hi @contentandwell I think one of the easiest ways to think about this is to remember palliative care provides for comfort, etc. and is not curative care. Not sure if this helps, but it was a help to me when trying to sort out all the jargon!

Strength, Courage, & Peace

@IndianaScott thanks Scott. Since I was comfortable except on those occasions when I had an HE episode it probably was not something that would have benefited me. I was living a very normal life, getting exercise at my health club, shopping, socializing, etc. When my hematocrit and hemoglobin dipped dangerously low and I was told to get to the hospital IMMEDIATELY I was entertaining company and wanted to wait until after dinner but they said NO. All were amazed that I was entertaining, a doctor said with my count she would have been flat on her back!
JK

Am interested in having on line initial course on palliative Care, what should I do?

Hi @indeche, simply click VIEW in this email that this message has sent you. The online video will go live in a couple of minutes.

It will also be recorded so that you can watch it any time.