Exploring Palliative and End-of-Life Care: A Holistic Approach

This essay explores palliative care as a means of improving the quality of life for patients suffering from terminal chronic illnesses. It highlights the challenges faced by patients undergoing treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, emphasizing the need for emotional, physical, and nutritional support. The essay discusses the importance of delivering information to patients in a way that supports their emotional and psychological state, referencing the case of Michelle, a cancer patient. It also touches on the impact of treatment on a patient's personal and professional life. The conclusion emphasizes that while palliative care may not cure, it makes the end-of-life process more bearable and improves the patient's overall well-being.

Running head: palliative and end of life care 1
PALLIATIVE AND END OF LIFE CARE
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PALLIATIVE AND END OF LIFE CARE
INTRODUCTION
Patients suffering from terminal chronic illness face a lot of challenges both emotionally
and physically. While undergoing medication (Chemotherapy or (and) radiation), they have to
learn to cope with the side effects of the medication, the emotional strain brought about by the
condition and the treatment and the constant physical and emotional support they require from
their families, friends as well as the health care givers.
PALLIATIVE CARE
Palliative care is the care meant to assist the patients who suffer from long term chronic
illnesses and are in the end of life stages. The care that is given through a structured program is
drawn out so as to ensure that the patients are comfortable while they undergo treatment in and
out of health facilities. The care may be in terms of achieving right nutritional assistance,
physical medical therapies, emotional support (counselling) and also managing medication. One
of the most critical stages in palliative care is the delivery of information. This is due to the fact
that delivery of certain information may critically affect a patient’s emotional and psychological
state and affect treatment process which may reflect negatively on one’s health (Higginson,
2018).
It’s clear to the oncologist that Michelle has to be given real data and out her state of
health so as to find the most suitable ways of moving forward. She makes sure to deliver all
information about the reoccurrence and spread of cancer from her breast to the lungs. She also
informs her that there isn’t much of a cure but assures ger of the ways in which she can be
guided to increase the longevity of her life in order to ensure she lives a comfortable, longer
quality life (Higginson, 2018).

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During her visits to the hospital, she does talk about how her career is part of who she is
and how the illness has affected her delivery in class and also led to her permanently being let go
from work due to her deteriorating health. Chemotherapy and radiation tend to be complicated,
time consuming as explained to Michelle by the care giver and thus her absence from her
children is inevitable. More to that, the process is physically tasking as it is emotionally draining.
This is due to the disruption of body hormonal levels. This is why Michelle finds it hard to be
the person she was before and she feels unfulfilled and insufficient (Reigada, 2015).
CONCLUSION
Palliative care may not heal a patient in her end stage phases of an illness like cancer but
it makes the process more bearable and improves the state of life for a patient holistically, as seen
in Michelle’s case.

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References
Higginson, J. I. (2018). Research challenges in palliative and end of life care. BMJ Supportive &
Palliative Care, 1-4.
Reigada, C. R.-P. (2015). The Caregiver Role in Palliative Care: A Systematic Review of the
Literature. Omics online, 1-15. doi:10.4172/2375-4273.1000143