Facing death is a great psychological trauma to many people. Unfortunately, death is the inevitable to any being on earth.

Every year, over ten thousand people die of cancer in Hong Kong. Apart from the physical burden of the disease, a patient has to face the threat of impending death and family members also shoulder much pressure and sorrow. Helping cancer patients to positively and peacefully complete their last lap in life with dignity is one of the greatest blessings.

The objective of palliative care service is the provision of symptom relief, emotional support and spiritual care services to terminally ill patients aiming to relieve the physical and psychological sufferings and improve their quality of life. It also helps the family face the pressure and sorrow while caring for the patient.

Studies suggest that palliative care is effective in improving the quality of life and end of life care for advanced cancer patients. A local study* was conducted at 4 hospitals under the Hospital Authority (HA) with Palliative Care Units and explored the health care activities of nearly 500 terminal cancer patients. It was revealed that two-thirds of them had received palliative care and approximately half of them passed away in palliative care wards.

The research findings showed that patients who received palliative care, as compared to those who did not:

‧received less invasive futile treatments (e.g. nasogastric tube, centrovenous lines, mechanical ventilation) during the last two weeks of life

‧had shorter stay in acute wards and less admissions to intensive care unit during the last six months of life

‧had more symptoms controlled during the last two weeks of life

‧had more analgesics prescribed (including strong opioids and adjuvant analgesics) during the last two weeks of life, and yet more mentally alert at 72 hours before death