What is the difference between palliative care and hospice?
The main difference is timing and the goal of care. According to the National Cancer Institute, palliative care can begin at any point during cancer treatment. That can be any time from diagnosis to the end of life. A person may keep getting cancer treatment while receiving it. Hospice care begins when curative treatment is no longer the goal of care. At that point the sole focus is quality of life.
So palliative care and hospice are not the same thing. Palliative care is meant to improve quality of life for anyone with a serious disease such as cancer. Age and stage of disease do not matter. It can be given with or without treatment meant to cure the cancer.
A person and their care team may decide to move from treatment to hospice care. Palliative care can help with that change. It can prepare them for physical changes that may occur near the end of life. It can help them cope with thoughts and emotions. And it gives support to family members and caregivers.
Your healthcare team can explain which type of care fits your situation and goals.
Want the full picture? Read our complete explanation: What Is Palliative Care? Comfort During Cancer
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