Dear Sue,
If you have the inclination/strength to post about your palliative program as it unfolds that would be educational to all of us. Since every patient is different, one patient’s program may have some similarities but, from my experience, often some differences as well. When I was at Mayo in Rochester with a patient a few years ago we were told that Mayo had a palliative care program very early on.
More and more hospitals are starting palliative care units and the recent ASCO recommendations that oncologists start a palliative program, early on, hopefully will take hold. Regarding pain, as an example, there is no reason a cancer patient has to endure excruciating pain without some relief. I went to a pain conference about a year ago and several lectures were on constipation, which is often a difficult SE due to pain killers slowing your system down, including the GI tract. It was interesting to see the knowledge the pain experts had about constipation treatment. It is an important issue and again that many oncologists don’t have the time or the expertise to focus on.
Good luck, Sue!!! Thank you, so much, for posting.
My heart remains with you,
Steve