"Palliative Care Just As Important As Treating Ovarian Cancer Itself"- Kristie L. Kahl
Patients must advocate for themselves to receive palliative care in conjunction with their treatment regimen to help with symptom burden, according to a presentation from the 2018 National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) Annual Meeting. Treating the pain, symptoms and stress of cancer in active treatment and its aftermath is as important as treating the cancer,” said Beth Popp, MD, senior faculty of geriatrics and palliative medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “When serious illness strikes, we want to achieve, cure or keep disease in check; maintain good functioning and quality of life; to have coordination and connection of care; and support to help us make informed decisions,” she added. She added that is important for patients to know that palliative care can not only relieve pain and symptoms, but it can also help patients live longer, improve family support, reduce hospitalizations and emergency department visits, and reduce unnecessary tests and procedures, too.
- Beth Popp, MD, Senior Faculty, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai