How can hospice care staff help me manage the symptoms of advanced cancer?

People living with advanced cancer may experience many different symptoms. The hospice staff will tell you what changes or symptoms you need to watch for. As the illness progresses, caregivers may spend a lot of time and energy trying to manage symptoms that keep changing. Remember that all difficult symptoms can be relieved either somewhat or completely, so be sure to ask your hospice team for help.

Different medications are often given around the clock to relieve symptoms. Sometimes, treating one symptom can cause others to appear. Caregivers will be asked to observe and discuss changes with the hospice staff to help relieve physical discomfort the patient may have.

Some people experience little or no pain during advanced cancer. For others, pain may be present, but it is rare that pain that cannot be relieved to some degree. Hospice physicians and nurses are experts in using the most advanced pain control methods available. Pain medications are generally taken by mouth, usually on an around-the-clock basis to control the pain and prevent new pain from appearing.