Understanding Palliative Care
Emily Schafhauser, MD, Palliative Medicine Lead Physician at Minnesota Oncology, explains what palliative care is.
Palliative care is medical care that improves the quality of life for patients who have a serious illness, such as cancer. It is a comprehensive approach that minimizes symptoms and the distress that can occur with serious illness.
Palliative care teams facilitate communication between patient, families, and providers. In addition, we aim to relieve stress and worry by addressing the practical needs of both patient and family.