Question

Palliative care refers to:

A) using life saving care techniques.
B) the relief of pain and physical symptoms.
C) relating to the patient in a very polite manner.
D) treating the disease aggressively to eradicate it.

Answer 1

Palliative care is about relieving pain and physical symptoms for patients, primarily when curative treatments are not an option, and seeks to improve quality of life.

Step-by-step explanation:

Palliative care refers to option B) the relief of pain and physical symptoms. Unlike curative treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy which target the elimination or reduction of the cancer itself, palliative care focuses on providing comfort and quality of life to the patient. Palliative care can be offered alongside curative treatments or when such treatments are no longer effective. Hospice is a form of palliative care typically provided at the end of life when "cure-oriented treatments" are not an option, emphasizing comfort and quality of life during the dying process.