What is Palliative Care in Cancer?

When people hear the word “cancer care,” they often think only about chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, or immunotherapy. But cancer treatment is not just about targeting tumours. It is also about helping patients cope with the physical, emotional and psychological burden that comes with the disease itself.

This is where palliative care plays a crucial role.

In cancer care today, palliative support is increasingly being recognised not as a last resort, but as an essential layer of care that helps patients maintain comfort, dignity and quality of life throughout treatment. Research has also shown that early palliative care may improve symptom control, reduce hospitalisations and help patients tolerate treatment better. 

Cancer affects much more than one organ or one system. Even when treatment is medically successful, patients may still struggle with symptoms that affect daily functioning and emotional well-being.

Some of the most common challenges include:

• Cancer-related pain

• Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

• Fatigue and weakness

• Sleep disturbances

• Anxiety and emotional distress

• Appetite loss and weight loss

• Neuropathy and nerve discomfort

• Difficulty maintaining independence

In many cases, symptoms may arise not only from the cancer itself, but also from aggressive treatments intended to fight the disease.

Palliative care focuses on reducing this overall symptom burden so that patients are not just surviving treatment, but can live through it with greater comfort and support.

One of the biggest shifts in modern oncology is the move toward introducing palliative care much earlier in the treatment journey.

Earlier, supportive care was often introduced only during advanced or terminal stages. Today, many cancer centres integrate palliative care soon after diagnosis for patients with moderate to severe symptoms.

Early integration of palliative care matters because unmanaged symptoms can create a chain reaction:

• Poor sleep worsens fatigue

• Chronic pain increases stress and anxiety

• Appetite loss affects recovery and strength

• Emotional distress impacts treatment adherence

Addressing these issues early can significantly improve day-to-day functioning and overall patient resilience. Studies also suggest that receiving early palliative support may result in better quality of life and improved emotional health during treatment.

An important concept in palliative oncology is the concept of “symptom clusters.” This means several symptoms often occur together and influence one another.

For example:

• Pain may worsen insomnia

• Insomnia may increase fatigue

• Fatigue may contribute to depression

• Depression may reduce appetite and motivation

Treating only one symptom in isolation may not be enough.

This is why modern palliative care uses a multidisciplinary approach that may involve:

• Pain specialists

• Nutritionists

• Counsellors and psychologists

• Rehabilitation experts

• Oncology teams

• Caregivers and family support systems

The goal is to improve overall functioning rather than simply suppress individual symptoms.

One of the lesser-discussed aspects of cancer is the emotional exhaustion patients often experience.

Many patients struggle with:

• Fear of disease progression

• Uncertainty around treatment outcomes

• Body image changes

• Financial stress

• Social isolation

• Caregiver guilt and dependency concerns

Palliative care addresses these emotional dimensions through counselling, communication support, stress-management strategies and family-centred care planning.

This becomes especially important because emotional distress can directly influence physical symptoms, sleep quality, appetite and even treatment motivation.

Palliative care goes beyond medications and may include nutritional support, gentle movement, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, sleep support and emotional care to improve overall well-being during cancer treatment. In some cases, cannabinoid-based medicines may also be used under medical supervision to help support symptoms like pain, nausea, appetite loss and sleep disturbances.

Modern cancer care is not only about treating the disease, but also about improving quality of life throughout treatment. Palliative care helps patients feel more supported physically, emotionally and functionally during their cancer journey.