Supportive Care

Palliative Care & Spiritual Support

Palliative care focuses on comfort, quality of life, and your total well-being. It is not only for end of life; it can and should begin at the time of diagnosis.

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Palliative Care

What Is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of serious illness. It is a layer of support added alongside curative treatment, not a replacement for it.

Palliative care can begin at diagnosis and continue throughout treatment. A palliative care team works alongside your oncologists and surgeons to address pain, nausea, fatigue, emotional distress, and other symptoms that affect quality of life. Early involvement of palliative care has been shown in research to improve both quality of life and, in some cancers, overall survival.

Always ask your healthcare team about palliative care services. They are available at Mount Sinai and can help significantly.

Palliative Care

Symptom Management

Palliative care addresses a wide range of symptoms that affect daily life during and after cancer treatment.

Pain: Tailored pain management plans using oral medications, nerve blocks, or other interventions to achieve comfort without sacrificing alertness.
Nausea & vomiting: Anti-nausea medications and dietary adjustments to maintain comfort and adequate nutrition.
Fatigue: Activity pacing, sleep hygiene guidance, and treatment of contributing causes such as anemia or depression.
Anxiety & depression: Counseling, support groups, and medications when appropriate. Emotional distress is a medical concern, not a sign of weakness.
Jaundice & bile duct obstruction: Endoscopic or radiologic placement of stents to relieve obstruction and improve comfort and liver function.

Spiritual Care

Spiritual Care

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming not only physically but emotionally and spiritually. Spiritual care supports your inner life, beliefs, and values regardless of your faith background.

Spiritual care may include prayer or meditation, talking with a chaplain or spiritual advisor, exploring questions of meaning and hope, or finding peace in music, nature, or personal rituals. Many patients describe spiritual care as one of the most meaningful parts of their experience.

Ask your nurse or doctor to connect you with the hospital chaplain service at Mount Sinai. Chaplains are available to all patients regardless of religious affiliation.
Reach out to a pastor, rabbi, imam, priest, or spiritual leader you trust. Many offer counseling or visits to patients during treatment.

Comfort Is Part of Good Care

Palliative care is not giving up. It is expert, compassionate support that helps you live as well as possible throughout treatment.

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