Treatments During End Stages

[Searching48507]

Ladies,

Have any of you heard of treatment (chemo, etc...) continuing when someone is in Hospice as part of pallative care?  Seems odd to me.

Thanks,

Karen

[shewrites]

I'm so sorry you're going through this.  Hospice helped my father-in-law have a "good death," especially compared to his wife, my mother-in-law.  I hope you and your sister will find the comfort you need in her final days.  God bless!  

[Searching48507]

My question about the treatments has finally been answered by the Dr's.  They are finishing the treatment plan in the hospital.  They have arranged for in-home hospice after those last treatments are done.  Their hope is that the final treatments may provide pain relief. So, it is pallitative in nature for the pain, rather than hopeful of cure.  I really hate this.

[Searching48507]

Thanks for the further definitions.  The person I'm referencing had been told 1 to 6 weeks, and they are administering additional treatments as well as giving her physical therapy.  Seems really odd to me, but if it is providing her relief and even additional hope than great.

Karen

[ireneo]

I remember reading that there's a difference between palliative care and hospice. Palliative care offers pain relief and life prolonging care (such as special nutritional needs) even if they can't offer a cure. It can be given at any time during a disease. Hospice care is usually only given if a person has less than 6 months left.

I found this portion of a definition comparing the two:

Palliative care is NOT the same as hospice care. Palliative care may be provided at any time during a person`s illness, even from the time of diagnosis. And, it may be given at the same time as curative treatment.
Hospice care always provides palliative care. However, it is focused on terminally ill patients-people who no longer seek treatments to cure them and who are expected to live for about six months or less.

[Searching48507]

Thanks for the responses.  It still doesn't make much sense to me.  I'm thinking that because the hospice is actually a wing of the hospital that it's making a difference.  
Karen

[shewrites]

I think it depends on the hospice and how they define their services.  My father in law was recently in hospice and we were told that his primary doctor would continue to be in charge and might (with patient and family approval) order potentially life-lengthening interventions, such as nutrition.  Hospice was there to make him physically comfortable and provide chaplaincy/counseling as needed.  As it turned out, the primary doctor did not interfere.  

[ireneo]

I thought hospice care did not allow hospitalizations or active treatments for a disease. Only pain control and comfort measures.