Patient Quality of Life Through Palliative Care

Treating the Patient as well as the Disease

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It's provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals working together with the patient, their family and caregiver. The team works with the patient to control pain and other symptoms, understand the patient's goals, and explain treatment options so the patient can choose what is best.

It is a proven approach that provides an extra layer of support for people of any age and at any stage of a serious disease such as cancer, and can be provided alongside curative treatment. Palliative care focuses on treating the disease while also ensuring the best possible quality of life for the patient.

Groundbreaking Bills Introduced in Congress

In July 2012, Congress introduced two bills that aim to reduce suffering and improve the quality of life of patients undergoing care for serious illnesses such as cancer by improving access to palliative care.

Understanding Palliative Care

A recent study showed that most consumers, doctors and lawmakers either aren't familiar with palliative care or don't properly understand its full scope of services and benefits for patients. Our Resources Page provides basic as well as detailed information about what palliative care is, what services are typically provided to patients, and evidence-based research proving its value and benefits.

Go to the Resources page.

See ACS CAN's Palliative Care Ad

Campaign News

January 25, 2013:
American Cancer Society Expert Urges FDA Panel to Oppose Reduced Access to Effective Pain Medications
August 9, 2012:
Report Shows Majority of States Not Measuring Up On Laws and Policies to Fight Cancer
July 20, 2012:
Crucial Legislation Would Improve Patients’ Quality of Life

More News >>

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ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.acscan.org.

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