Supportive care – when definite treatment is not available

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Have you ever wondered .........

Few diseases – Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Asthma – that has no cure, how its patients are being treated in the Hospital.............?   ?

Let me tell you......

The answer is Supportive Care.

What is means ....?

This article will cover it fully.

  • Let’s say, there is a patient Mr. Xyz, having Stage 3 Cancer comes to the Hospital. 
  • As of now, we do not have any treatment to cure the patient having this disease. So, what will the Doctor do?              
  • He cannot send Mr. Xyz back to his house saying that SORRY, I do not know what to do in the disease that you are suffering from.                                                                            
  • I’m sure you have not heard any doctor saying this to his patient, after all, it’s Doctor’s duty to treat patient.
                                         


So, what the Doctor will do?

Let’s understand......

  • Even if the Doctor cannot cure Mr. Xyz, he can decrease Mr. Xyz’s suffering due to Cancer.                                                      
  • If he is in discomfort, Doctor can advice some type of treatments that might not prolong the patient’s life, but can make his remaining days on the earth, more comfortable.                                                                                             
  • These treatment measures combined are called Palliative and Supportive Care. It can be given at home, where nursing staff will take care of the patient 24/7.

                         

Examples of supportive treatment: -

  • Analgesic –                                             
Pain medications are used to decrease the pain that will make the patient calm and allow him to sleep properly. 

Due to undisturbed sleep; not only the patient, but his relatives could also be at ease.

                                           

  • Antipyretic: - 
Fever Medication.

  • Ventilator Support: - 
If the patient is not able to breathe properly on his own, Medical staff will give him assisted ventilation; so that he can breathe. 

Due to that he will not only remain at ease due to relief from gasping, but his body tissue will get more oxygen . They can heal properly.

  • Positioning Assistance: - 
When the person loses his ability to swallow because of weakness or brain injury, his secretions (Mucus and saliva) will remain in the respiratory passage and will result in troublesome breathing. 

Doctor can ask assistant staff to put the patient in lateral position to help drain the secretions or, if serious, can give Anticholinergic medicine to decrease the secretions.

  • Sedative medications – 
If the patient cannot sleep, he will be restless throughout the day, so to help him sleep, medications are advised.


Even after all above stated measures, patient’s condition keeps worsening, and the expected duration of life will not be more than few months, Hospice care is advised.  

                                   


So, that is the care that Doctor offers to patients having Incurable diseases. 

As always...... questions are welcomed and will be responded quickly in the comments below........

Take Care...........!