When cancer causes dsitress to the patient or it escapes the bounds of curative options like surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, improving the quality of whatever life that remains becomes paramount. This is where Hospice helps by providing palliative care to the patients and support to the family.

WHO expert committee defines palliative care as active total care of patients whose disease is life threating. The goal is to achieve best possible quality of life for patients and their families. It neither hastens nor postpones death. It provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms and offers support to the family to cope during the illness and in bereavement.

Click here for the definitions.