Patient Stories: How Palliative Care Helps with Anxiety, Pain, and More
Sometimes, reading about how palliative care can improve the quality of life of people living with serious illness may not be enough. Being able to listen to someone’s story can make all the difference. That’s why we’re excited to share a new series of videos from patients and caregivers who are now thriving, thanks to the support of their palliative care teams. Read and watch their stories below. Plus, stay tuned for two more stories next month.
Richard’s Story: Palliative Care Helps with Anxiety, Pain Management, and More
Richard is a 74-year-old gay man who lives in San Francisco. He finds joy in spending time with his cat and his friends. He also loves to cook and prepare food, which is therapeutic to him. He likes to watch TV and movies, read, and be in nature.
Richard has lived with HIV/AIDS for over 40 years and is a survivor of anal cancer for 33 years. When Richard was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, he was shocked and scared. His later cancer diagnosis added to the stress. At a certain point, he didn’t want to go through more surgeries or procedures, but still had chronic, uncomfortable symptoms. That’s when his primary care doctor connected him with a palliative care team.
Palliative care helped Richard by talking through non-surgical treatment options, and providing support for his anxiety, as well as pain management. What Richard appreciates most about his palliative care team is that he feels truly seen, heard, and cared for.
“I’m just really grateful for my palliative care team. I feel really lucky and fortunate to have such great doctors and nurses that support me, and I’m not afraid anymore.”
Watch Richard’s Story:
Sheralin’s Story: Palliative Care Helps with Caregiving
As Sheralin says, “In a word, I would describe palliative care as our dream team.” She’s talking about how palliative care helped transform her life and her mom’s.
Sheralin lives in California and is the caregiver for her mother, who has young-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. As Sheralin describes, prior to the diagnosis, her mom was a “very strong” single-mother, a hard-worker, and always wanted to give back. Sheralyn tried to provide care for her mother at home, based on everything her primary care doctor provided, but hit a lot of roadblocks.
Sheralin turned to palliative care for guidance and support. The palliative care team not only helped find additional support for her mother’s care, but they also helped Sheralin manage her own stress, depression, and anxiety. They also gave her the tools to navigate her emotions and the challenges of caregiving.
Watch Sheralin’s Story:
About Palliative Care
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care is provided by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses, and other specialists who work together with your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided alongside curative treatments.
To learn more about palliative care and how it can help, visit GetPalliativeCare.org. You’ll find helpful resources, including a quick quiz to see if palliative care might be right for you or your loved one.
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