Medical Report: Overlooked tool is helping many people with serious illnesses

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Palliative care is defined as specialized medical care that helps people with serious illnesses or chronic conditions.

The goal is to help them improve their quality of life. According to a researcher from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, it should be a major tool used in all health care settings.

Palliative care started in the early 1960s but was overlooked by many in organized medicine and confused with end-of-life care.

If you have a serious health condition, ask your doctor about palliative care. You can continue to receive treatment with the goal of full recovery, but you will also receive care for many of the other issues that impact your quality of life.

Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough .

​​KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.