Question: My doctor recently suggested that I start palliative care to help with some of the side effects I’m experiencing from my lung cancer treatment. Is this the same thing as hospice care?  

Answer: No. Palliative care and hospice care share some similarities, but they are not the same thing.  

Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life and is recommended for lung cancer patients at every stage of their treatment. Research has shown that palliative care is especially important in advanced lung cancer. Studies show that lung cancer patients who received palliative care early on and throughout their treatment had improved mood and quality of life and also lived longer! 

Palliative care is delivered alongside your other cancer treatment(s). It aims to prevent or treat symptoms and side effects to help you feel better while going through lung cancer treatment. Palliative care specialists are experts in understanding and addressing pain or other symptoms you might be experiencing. They work with your full medical team to support your care and help you live your best life.  

Alternately, hospice care is most appropriate for people who are approaching the end of life (generally measured at six months or less). Hospice care is focused on providing comfort and quality of life rather than treatment or a cure. Hospice care may include pain and symptom management and emotional support for patients and their families.

Please note that the information included in any published answer is for educational pursuit only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult their healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Nothing from GO2 for Lung Cancer should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion.