For many cancer patients, a discussion about hospice is a difficult one because they are moving into a phase in their struggle with cancer where they are no longer pursuing active treatment.

Transition to hospice should not be considered “giving up.” Many patients will actually do better with hospice, live longer, and have fewer symptoms when compared to patients undergoing additional chemotherapy with low rates of response. Patients whose cancer has not responded well to two or three chemotherapy drugs are unlikely to respond to a third or fourth chemotherapy drug.

In my experience, patients and their families generally have a very favorable experience with hospice. Hospice offers a number of services including pastoral care, counseling, respite care, medical equipment, and social work. Hospice nurses have expertise in administering strong pain medications and have years of experience in palliating symptoms. They are very adept in educating and counseling patients and families.

If you elect for hospice under Medicare and most insurances, the expense of your prescription medications will be completely covered. This is blessing for patients with high copays or limited prescription coverage. Hospices will also cover the expense of limited laboratory testing, office visits, radiation treatments, transfusions, etc, as long as they are done with the intent of palliating symptoms. If a patient is still pursuing active treatment, or needs a higher level of care, they can opt out of hospice at any time.

If you elect for hospice, a nurse will be available 24 hours a day to answer questions and come to your home to administer care as needed. Hospice nurses can make visits to your home anywhere from once every several weeks to several times a day if necessary.

They are many hospices to choose from. If you do not have a preference, your doctor will have one to recommend.