If you have terminal lung cancer, facing end-of-life issues may be more than you are able to handle right now, certainly on your own. But learning about hospice and the level of care it offers patients might help you better handle your circumstances and make the time you have more comfortable.
"We have [lung cancer] treatments that will help the patient live longer and better," says Joan Schiller, MD, chief of the division of hematology-oncology and deputy director of the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and national spokesperson for the American Lung Association. "It becomes a rather personal decision for the patient about how long she wants to fight. When the side effects of chemotherapy outweigh the possible benefits, that's when patients decide to stop treatment and consider alternatives like hospice."
Hospice Care for Lung Cancer Patients
Hospice care is often described as an approach that treats the patient, not the disease. The goal of hospice is to make you as comfortable — and as pain-free — as possible for the rest of your life.
If you opt for hospice care, you will have access to a team of doctors, nurses, health aides, chaplains, social workers, and others. Your hospice team will strive to meet your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs and wishes. Hospice personnel can help with controlling pain and provide medication and equipment for you as well as offer emotional support and guidance for caregivers on how best to care for you.
If you have decided to stop treatment for your lung cancer and your doctor feels you have a certain number of months to live, you or your caregiver should ask your doctor about hospice care options in your community or through your hospital.
A staff member from each of the hospice services you're considering should be able to set up a meeting with you to discuss what services it offers and go over any details, such as consent forms. Once you decide on the hospice program that is best for you, their staff will contact your doctor to make the necessary arrangements.
In many cases, hospice services are paid for by the Medicare Hospice Benefit, the Medicaid Hospice benefit, or your private insurance company. If necessary, the hospice program will work with you to make sure you are provided with hospice services.
Hospice Care: Choosing Between Home or a Facility
Hospice care can take place in your own home, at a hospice facility, or a hospice facility within a hospital. Some people prefer to live out their life in their own home; in that case an in-home hospice program is what you want. Medical equipment companies should be able to deliver and set up most necessary equipment in your home.
If you need to have medical personnel available 24 hours a day, hospice care in a facility might be a better choice. Note that hospice care at a facility is not always covered by health insurance.
It is important to communicate your end-of-life decisions to your family, friends, and medical team. Tell them why you have made up your mind and how they can help make sure your wishes are followed. Remember that you can change your mind about your decisions in the future, but it is always a good idea to think about end-of-life issues as early as possible.
0 nhận xét:
Speak up your mind
Tell us what you're thinking... !