PALLIATIVE CARE
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“Palliative care is NOT about dying. It is all about living.” What is palliative care? Palliative care is about improving quality of life for patients and their families. It can be used at any stage of the disease alongside other treatments, or on its own towards the end of life. It provides an extra layer of support for men with cancer. Treatments vary from medication to changes in nutrition (dietary advice), relaxation techniques (such as massages or aromatherapy), alternative therapies such as acupuncture, targeted radiation to help with areas of pain, or radiotherapy to the prostate to help with ongoing bleeding in the urine. The focus is patient-centred holistic care for patients with serious illnesses and their families. What is end of life care?
Common Questions
Can I live without my prostate? End of life is a type of palliative care and is used1.as patients get close to the end of life.
What is the aim of palliative care?
Yes, a man can live without his prostate. The whole prostate may be removed for cancer or part of it when it is enlarged and causing symptoms.
Palliative care is about care and comfort rather than cure. It is often referred to 2. What conditions other than cancer as symptomatic care. The aims of such care include: can affect the prostate?
enigneffects (non-cancerous) enlargement • Treat and prevent symptoms of the disease or• Bside of treatments, called BPH such as pain, nausea, and tiredness
• Addressing a patient’s emotional needs
• Prostatitis - infection or inflammation of the prostate.
• Treating a patient’s physical and social needs3. Do biological women have a prostate? No. • Helping a patient with practical needs such as getting to appointments or 4. How big can the prostate get? help with finances
There is no real upper limit. • A small sized prostate has a volume of 30-40ml Providing the above for caregivers, families and loved ones • A medium sized prostate has a volume of 40-80ml • A large sized prostate has a volume greater than 80ml.
• Helping patients with spiritual needs •
FIGHTING PROSTATE CANCER - A SURVIVAL GUIDE
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