What is Palliative Care?

 I've mentioned the term Palliative Care a few times now, so I thought it might be best to help define it for those who are less familiar with it. 

The definition: Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. It has four key goals for patients, and in some cases, their families

• Relieving suffering
• Improving quality of life
• Providing emotional and spiritual support
• Facilitating communication and decision-making

And, what distinguishes it from hospice care is simply the time in which it's given. Hospice care, the term more people are accustomed to hearing, is for end-of-life care. Whereas, the care I'm grateful to be currently receiving allows me to live as best I can before I approach the need for hospice.

My care team includes my therapist (the brilliant and compassionate V💜), Dr. L and his team of RN's (who manages my medications that support the relief of various symptoms due to the cancer, and the treatment I'm currently receiving), and has a host of other services and groups that I can take advantage of. 

I look forward to sharing more about the mentor/mentee program I'm going to be part of soon, for example. 

The best part of this team and these people are they help me to know I'm not alone and they are right there when something doesn't feel like I was told it should, or I have a bad couple of days mentally. And as time goes on, I can lean into these experts and unbelievably kind people for reasons I don't even currently know I'll need. 

We will have established a relationship for the expected and unexpected turns and twists of this journey.

Which is why I wanted to call attention to what this all is. I hadn't even heard of this before I needed it. And I am lucky. I have incredible healthcare. It was handed to me on a silver platter. 

But anyone, regardless of circumstance in terms of healthcare benefits, should look into this if needed. There are so many services, pieces of information, and access to care that I didn't know I'd need when this all started and that I certainly didn't know existed. 

One thing I've come to understand in these last six weeks or so, is I am carrying tremendous grief. But so are others who are in my life. Friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and even those who I see only occasionally* such my hairstylist or the nail salon I go to.

So know if you are experiencing grief or sadness because of someone else's diagnosis, there are services and resources out there for you too. 

One of the most early lessons from V💜 was how everyone reacts, processes, feels differently and at completely varying paces with this sort of diagnosis. And that is perfectly okay. 

Not knowing what to say - it's okay.

Not knowing how to react - it's normal.

Not knowing how to help - that's real.

And when you're ready, and only when you're ready (patient or person in supporting role), you'll seek out answers, options, and solutions to how it all feels, and what you're supposed to do with it.

I know for myself, I can't always answer those things (what to say, how to react, or how to help myself) so I for sure do not have any expectations on those around me to have figured it out. Which is why people like Dr. L and V💜 and millions of other people who provide Palliative Care are such extraordinary souls.

*okay, okay - pretty regularly :)