Palliative Care and Hospice Care are Not the Same
These two terms are used in similar ways but they are different forms of care for someone with cancer. Palliative care is given at every step of the treatment process and at all stages of illness to improve comfort and quality of life. Hospice care is a form of palliative care given to people with cancer who are expected to live six months or less.
Making the transition to hospice care is a very difficult part of the cancer journey. If you or a loved one is living with very advanced prostate cancer, talk with your health care providers about how they will help you make this transition as seamlessly as possible.
To learn more about hospice and how to talk to your doctors about hospice, visit Hospice Foundation of America (www.hospicefoundation.org).