Understanding Palliative Care
A team is ready to help you along your lung cancer journey
What is Palliative Care?
Imagine you or someone you love is not feeling well because of a serious illness like lung cancer. Palliative care is a special kind of care that helps make life better and more comfortable. It’s not just about treating the illness but also about taking care of any pain or problems that come with that illness. The goal is to help patients feel better overall and support their families too.
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A Palliative Care team
Helps with Pain
Doctors and nurses work to make sure you're not in a lot of pain.
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A Palliative Care team
Looks at Your Needs
They check on all your needs - not just the physical ones but also how you're feeling inside, your worries, and even your spiritual needs.
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A Palliative Care team
Supports Families
It's also there for your family, giving them information and help as they support you.
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A Palliative Care team
Works with Your Doctors
Palliative care teams talk with your other doctors to make sure everyone is working together for you.
FAQs About Palliative Care
Palliative care is comfort care for anyone managing a serious illness. Usually, hospice care is comfort care when an individual’s prognosis is a life expectancy of six months or less if the terminal illness runs its normal course.
Healthcare facilities that provide palliative care and support include:
- pain or palliative care clinics
- palliative care units in hospitals
- long-term care facilities
- hospices
A palliative care clinic is a facility where individuals can receive pain and symptom management, along with emotional and practical support. It is designed for outpatients, meaning you visit the clinic for care but do not stay overnight.
Coverage can vary widely based on the patient’s plan, so it’s essential to verify with your insurance company. Medicare covers palliative care visits by a physician or advanced practice nurse. However, these visits may require copays.
When checking with Medicare or your insurance company, ask about the details of what is covered and what is not, including any copays and deductibles that may apply.
Finding Out More
At LCFA, we believe in hope and helping people learn more about lung cancer. We don’t give medical treatments or services directly, but we care about giving you the right information.
We encourage you to learn more about palliative care and talk about it with your doctor. It can make a big difference in how you feel and handle your journey with lung cancer. Remember, you’re not alone. LCFA is here to provide information and support. Together, we can face lung cancer with hope and knowledge.
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