Palliative Care

Photo of mother kissing her daughter

Patient Quality of Life

Most Americans and even many doctors have it wrong.  Palliative care is not just about end of life care.   

Palliative care services support patients from the point of diagnosis, throughout treatment and beyond. 

Palliative care is coordinated patient care that treats the patient as well as the disease.  It provides cancer patients and their caregivers an extra layer of support, making available a team of experts focused on relieving pain, managing emotional stress and other supportive services. 

This care improves the quality of life of cancer patients and cancer survivors, saving lives and reducing health care costs. 

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National

Congress: Pass PCHETA And Help Improve The Quality Of Life For Cancer Patients

Ask your Members of Congress to support PCHETA to improve the quality of life for patients of all ages living with cancer, as well as their families and caregivers.

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Ella Volunteer

"Life keeps going."

Ella knows cancer all too well. Diagnosed with leukemia at just age 11, she spent her entire teenage years in cancer treatment. Years later, she tragically lost her mom to cancer.

On June 21, Ella was one of 51 advocates from across 26 states to attend the 8 th...

Read her story.

Latest Updates

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Congress Prioritizes Cancer Research with $2.5 Billion Increase for NIH and $408 Million for NCI in FY 2023 Budget

December 20, 2022
National

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Early this morning Congress released a proposed FY 2023 funding deal that includes an increase of $2.5 billion for biomedical research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $408 million more for cancer research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and provides a funding boost to cancer

Congress’ Year-End Must-Do List Should Prioritize Cancer Prevention, Detection, Research and Palliative Care

November 16, 2022
National

Cancer advocates are urging Congress to prioritize cancer prevention, detection, research and palliative care in any forthcoming year-end legislative package as a way to accelerate progress against the disease and end cancer as we know it.

Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act Reintroduced

May 19, 2022
National

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) reintroduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), which charges the federal government with expanding both the availability and scope of palliative care services across the country. The bipartisan bill would increase federal

2020 Maine Session Summary

April 23, 2020
Maine

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Mainers touched by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In

Palliative Care Resources

Palliative Care Stories

March 15, 2016

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness - from point of diagnosis onward. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. This report shares the stories of patients who have benefited from palliative care and providers who deliver this important care.

The Journey of Palliative Care

June 1, 2012

This video from the Center to Advance Palliative Care explores palliative care, and follows the experience of Joyce Jann and her family, as they work with a palliative care team at Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, Florida.

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