Palliative care as a cancer treatment

Cancer is a disease that can be cured, although there are several factors that determine it. Treatment for cancer is very diverse. From chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery to palliative care are options. However, do you know what palliative medicine looks like? Come on, see the following reviews.

What is palliative care?

Palliative care according to the World Health Organization (WHO) is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and families facing life-threatening health problems, through prevention and action to reduce pain, physical, social, and spiritual problems that patients face during treatment.

Generally, this treatment is aimed at cancer patients with an advanced stage. During treatment, the oncologist will help the patient relieve the symptoms by prescribing additional cancer pain relievers. Then, the nutritionist will also monitor the patient's cancer diet and overcome problems in fulfilling these nutrients.

Not only cancer, people with other chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, HIV / AIDS, and problems with the nervous system that cannot be cured can also follow this treatment.

Generally, this treatment is performed by a specialist in palliative medicine or a medical practitioner who has received special training. However, medical specialists, nurses, nutritionists, pharmacists, therapists, psychologists, chaplains and psychologists are also involved.

In Indonesia, there is actually a provision from the Ministry of Health which states that there must be the application of palliative medicine for several types of serious diseases. However, until now the implementation is still hampered by various things so that the maintenance has not been optimal.

What is the palliative care procedure?

Cancer experienced by patients has caused various things. The impact is not only on health, but affects all aspects of the patient's life. Therefore, palliative treatment is carried out to reduce other impacts that may arise due to the patient's illness.

According to the Medline Plus website, the procedures performed during palliative care are:

• Overcoming physical problems, such as pain, insomnia, shortness of breath, no appetite, and feeling sick in the stomach. To overcome this, specialists will conduct nutritional counseling, physical therapy, and provide techniques on how to take deep breaths so that the body becomes more relaxed.
• Overcoming emotional and social disorders, such as feeling afraid, angry, sad, uncontrolled emotions, and depression. Likewise with the patient's family who also felt the same way. The specialist will conduct counseling, hold discussions among patients who have a history of the same disease, and meet family gatherings.
• Reducing the financial problems that will be faced because the expenses for medical expenses are quite large. The nursing team must explain how much money is needed for treatment before the treatment is carried out as well as provide financial related counseling.
• Relieves spiritual problems by helping patients to find peace, and usually involves leaders of their respective religions.

Various types of palliative care for cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, research shows that palliative medicine provides health benefits, improves the well-being of cancer patients and their families, which in turn can extend the patient's life expectancy.

Therefore, the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends that all advanced cancer patients follow palliative treatment.

The following are some types of palliative care that cancer patients can undergo:

1. Art therapy

One of the most popular types of palliative care is art therapy. In this therapy, cancer patients will be given the opportunity to learn to express themselves. The goal, to reduce anxiety and increase calm in the heart and mind. In cancer patients, this therapy can also help relieve pain.

During the Monday therapy, you will do various activities that benefit you from being accompanied by a therapist, such as drawing, painting, sculpting, knitting, or making handicrafts.

2. Music therapy

Cancer can cause sadness, fear, shame, and various other negative motions. According to studies on Reports of practical oncology and radiotherapy,palliative care in the form of music therapy can help patients cope with all these negative emotions. This is because music is the most unique and most basic art form and is likely to affect the patient's spiritual, emotional, social and physical.

In this therapy, cancer patients will perform various activities, for example listening to classical music that soothes the heart and mind, singing together to improve mood, playing musical instruments to manage stress, or writing lyrics and making it into a song.

3. Animal therapy

The appearance of pain in certain areas of the body is a symptom of cancer. Apart from taking cancer drugs or cancer pain relievers, pain can also be relieved by palliative care in the form of veterinary therapy.

In this therapy can reduce stress and anxiety and replace it with positive energy. This has the effect of reducing pain. Animal therapy can also get rid of the loneliness of patients whose interactions with family and friends are limited because they have to undergo treatment in the hospital.

Interacting with animals may open up opportunities for infection in patients. However, you don't need to worry because the animals in this therapy are kept clean. You will also be taught to maintain cleanliness while interacting with these animals.

Based on reports in journals Biopsychosocial Medicine,Several hospitals in Jakarta have participated with various organizations to organize a three-year training program for doctors, nurses or pharmacists to deepen knowledge and skills regarding palliative care.

If you or your family would like to pursue supportive care for cancer or other chronic diseases, try consulting your doctor, the cancer community, or surfing the internet for information on choosing a palliative care setting.