What is the role of palliative care in stage four NSCLC?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 58-year-old female who has been diagnosed with stage four non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). My oncologist mentioned incorporating palliative care into my treatment plan, which has left me feeling confused and somewhat frightened. I had always thought that palliative care was only for patients in the end stages of illness.

What is the role of palliative care in the treatment of stage four NSCLC?
Can palliative care be provided alongside active cancer treatment, or does it mean that cancer treatment will be stopped?

Kindly advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

I understand your concern.

I comprehend the fear and anxiety you are feeling after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. However, I would like to tell you something important.

Non-small cell lung cancer is one of the types of lung cancer that can respond well to treatment. Once treatment begins, some patients experience a significant response, with shrinkage of the primary tumor and improvement in metastatic lesions.

Regarding palliative care, it is important to understand that it is not limited to end-stage disease. Palliative care can be provided to patients at all stages of cancer and is often given alongside active cancer treatment.

The goal of palliative care is to improve quality of life by managing symptoms and providing supportive care. This may include pain management, treatment of breathing difficulties or hypoxia, emotional support, and assistance with other symptoms related to cancer or its treatment.

If a specific area is causing pain, localized palliative radiotherapy may sometimes be used to help relieve symptoms. All of these measures are considered part of palliative care and can be provided while you continue receiving cancer-directed treatment.

In stage four disease, treatment options may include targeted therapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these approaches, depending on the tumor's molecular characteristics, overall health status, and treatment goals.

Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are often preferred when appropriate because they may offer effective disease control with a different side-effect profile compared to traditional chemotherapy.

I hope this explanation helps clarify the role of palliative care. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you.