Articles & Stories

If you have a serious illness, coping with pain can be a big part of your daily struggle. You are not alone. Many patients with serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease or kidney failure have pain that isn’t properly treated. Learn how palliative care can help. … Read More

When Amy Berman of New York City was diagnosed with stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer, she learned that only a small percentage of people with her diagnosis survive to five years. That was five-and-a-half years ago, and Amy is still here. In fact, she is as active and fulfilled as she has ever been.  She credits palliative care with keeping her healthy and lively as she deals with her illness. This is a story about making difficult but informed decisions. This is a story about finding happiness in the moment. … Read More

What is most important to you? It’s easy to forget the things you love about life when you have a serious illness.

Think about it for a moment. Do you love live music or salsa dancing? Do you feel happiest reading bedtime stories to your grandson? Or is your happy place enjoying a simple meal at home with your family?

Doctors are often too busy fighting your illness to stop and ask you what you want out of life, but your answer to that question is very important. Palliative care can help you live a good life, the way you choose to live it. … Read More

If you have a serious illness, it’s very likely that you are suffering from fatigue. Fatigue is the feeling of being easily tired and unable to do everyday tasks. It is a feeling of general weakness. It is the feeling of being unable to focus and forgetting things. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms for patients with serious illness.  … Read More

If you are facing a serious illness and have asked for palliative care or were referred by your physician, you may be wondering what the first meeting will be like. Here are five things you can expect. … Read More

Navigating the uncertain waters of high school and college can be challenging for anyone. Imagine spending those pivotal years with a serious illness.In the face of chronic pain and discomfort, constant doctor’s visits and hospitalizations and the stress that comes with giving up so much at such a young age, her goal is simple: to live the best life possible. … Read More

Constipation. Everyone hates having trouble going to the bathroom and we certainly don’t like to talk about it, but it’s an important subject. If you have a serious illness, constipation is one of the most common problems you are likely to have.

Palliative care can help. Palliative care is specialized medical treatment for people with serious illnesses. It can treat your pain and symptoms, including your constipation, so that you can live more comfortably. … Read More

Today, advocates from the Patient Quality of Life Coalition will descend on Capitol Hill to educate lawmakers and ask for their support on the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) (H.R. 3119/S. 2748).

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If you have a serious illness, your medical treatments can sometimes make you feel worse. You may also feel that your pain, your symptoms and your distress are all part of being sick. It doesn’t have to be that way. Palliative care can help. … Read More

The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) has created new materials for families of children with serious illnesses, as part of its Palliative Care: Conversations Matter campaign to raise awareness of and improve communications about pediatric palliative care. … Read More