HOSPICE

HOSPICE - NEED OF THE HOUR

“Care Beyond Cure”

Col S Kapoor VSM, Senior Advisor & Prof,Surgical Oncology,
Command Hospital (CC) Lucknow

A large number of patients suffering from cancer reach a stage when they are either unfit to continue any further definitive treatment or beyond the scope of it. These patients do not need active hospital care but do require supportive, symptomatic and palliative care till they succumb to their disease. This may not be possible at home and hence they need a Hospice for the same
A significant number of patients suffering from cancer reach a finality of treatment, after which they do not need active indoor hospital care or definitive treatment. These patients may survive from few days to few months during which time they need supportive and symptomatic care in form of pain relief, dressing, care of tubes and stomas, nutritional supplements and emotional support
Hospice care is a philosophy of caring for the terminally ill patients, and providing guidance and support to their families and loved ones. It provides palliative care and quality of life for whatever time remains, is the primary focus. This care concentrates on managing pain, controlling symptoms and providing emotional and spiritual guidance
Patients needing Hospice care are those who are unfit to continue further definitive treatment or
beyond the scope of it

These patients do not need active hospital care, but require supportive, symptomatic and palliative care which may not be feasible at home due to lack of financial, material and human resources

Keeping such patients in the Hospital has the following problems

Increases bed occupancy augmenting the already existing bed availability crunch
Adds extra load on the manpower and resources of the hospital
Terminally ill patients and their death is demoralizing for the other patients

Hospice provides
Pain relief
Nutritional supplementation
IV fluids and oxygen
Care of stomas and tubes
Dressings
Emotional and spiritual support to patient and relatives
Training to the relatives to provide terminal care at hospice and at home

Few Hospices in India are

Shanti Avedna At Mumbai and Delhi
Cipla Cancer Care Centre at Pune
Aastha at Lucknow

Hospice provides the terminally ill patients, a dignified and comfortable supportive care and a respectable end, without burdening hospitals, and is hence the need of the hour to provide care beyond cure

CANCER CURE AND CARE

CANCER CURE AND CARE

Cancer is the epidemic of our times and the incidence is increasing globally and in India
The prediction is that by 2025, one out of every six person will have cancer, and at least one member per family may be suffering from this deadly disease
Knowledge of cancer is still full of, myths and doubts and negligence and delay in diagnosis, lead to improper cancer care
The constantly changing modalities, give a great challenge to the oncologists to keep abreast of the latest treatment modalities and also create confusion in the mind of the patient

Cancer can be cured if detected early

This Blog page aims at
Creating awareness about cancer
Giving an opportunity to patients to put up their questions which will be addressed by experts
Continuing Medical Education for the under and post graduates in Oncology
Academic interactions between Oncologists
Case discussions on Cancer Care
Updating our knowledge on recent advances in oncology

As my contribution I shall be putting up short write ups on cancer awareness and treatment, and lessons learnt from articles, books, journals and from CMEs and Conferences

I would request all to participate to learn and teach about cancer care and to help the cancer patients and their relatives and to create awareness about cancer amongst the general population

So please
Feel free to ask any question relating to cancer
Any cancer patient or the relative is welcome put up their queries
Oncologists are requested to contribute towards the CME write-ups
Do project your case discussions as we have been doing through group mails
Do let us know of any new procedure or technique that you are following
Any successful series?
Any change in treatment protocols in guidelines like NCCN
Any information regarding cancer cure and care is welcome

Looking forward to co operation of one and all in spreading cancer awareness and in fighting the demon of cancer
Regards
Sanjay

Col Sanjay Kapoor VSMSenior Advisor & Prof
Surgical Oncology
Command Hospital (CC)
Lucknow, India
skapoors@gmail.com
09794765054