Lung Cancer Palliative Care

What Is Palliative Care for Lung Cancer?

Palliative or supportive care for lung cancer is crucial for symptom management and easing the side effects of more aggressive treatments.

Palliative care doesn’t directly treat lung cancer tumors. However, palliative and life-extending treatments can be used together to improve survival and also give patients the best quality of life possible.

Several studies have noted that palliative care for lung cancer has actually helped boost patient survival times as well as ease discomfort.

Quick Facts About Palliative Therapy for Lung Cancer

• Palliative care includes surgery, medications, emotional support, and more.
• Palliative treatment is provided by oncology doctors, chaplains, nurses, and social workers.
• Over 50% of patients with metastatic (advanced) lung cancer received palliative care in a 2022 study.
• These treatments help manage both early-stage and advanced lung cancer.
• You can receive palliative care throughout your cancer battle (not just in late stages).

If you’re interested in receiving palliative care following a lung cancer diagnosis, talk to your doctor. They can recommend top treatments, including pain-relieving options, based on the specifics of your diagnosis.

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide now to explore how palliative treatments and other therapies can help you after a diagnosis.

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Palliative Care vs. End of Life Care

Palliative care and end-of-life care have some overlap. However, they don’t necessarily refer to the same thing. Palliative care works to help patients with any stage of lung cancer feel better.

Patients can receive palliative care while receiving curative lung cancer treatments. The American Lung Association (ALA) notes that patients shouldn’t wait to request palliative lung cancer care if they’re in pain.

Who Can Receive Lung Cancer Palliative Care?

Patients with any type and stage of lung cancer may benefit from palliative care.

For example, a breakthrough study found that early palliative care for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) not only helped relieve symptoms but improved patient survival by nearly 3 months.

Palliative care for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is also beneficial. In a 2022 report from Cancers, patients with stage 3 or stage 4 SCLC lived for 17 months with palliative care compared to just 8 months in those who didn’t.

Even early-stage patients can get a lot of benefits from palliative lung cancer treatment, helping to manage not only the symptoms of cancer but also potential side effects of more aggressive therapies.

Types of Palliative Care for Lung Cancer

There are many types of palliative care for lung cancer. These include surgery, medications, oxygen therapy, nutritional supplements, and alternative therapies. Learn about the different options below.

Palliative Lung Cancer Surgery

Surgery can be used as palliative care to improve certain lung cancer symptoms, such as trouble breathing and fluid buildup.

Common palliative surgeries for lung cancer include:

• Thoracentesis treats pleural effusion (buildup of fluid outside the lungs), which can cause chest pain and shortness of breath. Health care providers place a hollow needle between the ribs to drain the fluid.
• Pleurodesis treats pleural effusion by using chemicals or talc to stick the linings of the lung (pleura) and chest wall together. This seals the pleural space and prevents fluid buildup.
• Pericardiocentesis drains fluid that builds up in the heart lining (pericardium), which can occur if lung cancer spreads there.
• Stent placement involves placing a tube in an airway to keep it open. Your palliative care team may perform this surgery if a tumor is causing difficulty breathing.

Lung cancer doctors can recommend which palliative surgery (if any) will be best in your case.

Medications

Palliative health care professionals may prescribe medications to manage symptoms of lung cancer.

Palliative lung cancer medications help with:

• Appetite (making you hungry)
• Cough suppression to improve breathing
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain

Palliative medicine can also ease side effects of more aggressive, life-extending treatment options, such as pain from surgery or nausea and constipation caused by chemotherapy or radiation.

Oxygen Therapy

As lung cancer progresses, patients may find it harder to breathe. This can lead to shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue.

To help lung cancer patients feel more comfortable, care specialists may prescribe oxygen therapy.

There are three types of oxygen systems for lung cancer patients:

• Compressed gas systems are small oxygen tanks that patients can carry around.
• Portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) are quiet and light devices that let you receive supplemental oxygen when outside the home. They run on electricity or batteries.
• Liquid oxygen systems are portable tanks you can pull or carry. They use low temperature gas and don’t require electricity.

“It might be daunting at first to get started with a new oxygen device, but with practice, you will gain confidence and adjust to life with oxygen therapy.”

— American Lung Association

Nutritional Supplements

Not getting enough nutrients during your lung cancer battle can cause you to feel fatigued and increase the risk of complications.

A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can work with your lung cancer palliative team to determine the best diet for you.

Lung cancer patients can follow these tips to reduce fatigue and other symptoms:

• Eat a varied diet high in vegetables and fruits and low in processed sugar and meats.
• Get your nutrients from your diet, not supplements.
• Speaking to your doctor before starting any dietary supplements, as these could interfere with your treatment plan.

A 2023 study published in Nutrients found that a balanced diet helps the body fight lung cancer more effectively, meaning getting proper nutrients may be a key aspect of treating this cancer.

Alternative Therapies

Health care providers may also suggest alternative lung cancer treatments to relieve pain, improve mood, and boost energy levels.

Examples of alternative therapies for lung cancer include:

• Acupuncture
• Light massage
• Meditation
• Reiki
• Yoga

However, alternative therapies should never be used in place of standard medical care. Some alternative therapies may make standard treatments ineffective or could even harm you.

Your lung cancer palliative care team can recommend alternative therapies that will complement the other treatments you’re receiving.

Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide to explore treatments to ease pain and possibly help you live longer following a diagnosis.

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Clinical Trials for Lung Cancer and Palliative Care

Clinical trials typically offer new treatments for lung cancer. Doctors are also studying new and better ways to provide palliative care through lung cancer clinical trials.

Clinical trials centered on lung cancer palliative care include:

• COSMIC study: Here, researchers are looking into the benefits and drawbacks of cannabis use among patients with lung cancer and other tumors. Medical-grade cannabis or marijuana has been shown to help relieve pain, stress, and anxiety.
• POISE study: This is investigating how Patient-centered, Optimal Integration of Survivorship and Palliative Care (POISE) can help end-stage NSCLC patients manage and cope with their diagnosis.
• PREVENT study: Doctors are comparing how palliative lung cancer radiation compares to the more aggressive intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Talk to your oncologist (cancer doctor) to see whether you may qualify to join a lung cancer palliative care trial. Each study has its own criteria as to who can enroll.

Benefits of Lung Cancer Palliative Care

The biggest benefits of lung cancer care are the potential to ease symptoms and improve quality of life. It’s not enough to simply treat a case of lung cancer — managing symptoms, side effects, and the stress of a diagnosis go a long way toward helping patients.

This is evident by the fact that many lung cancer patients have lived longer thanks to palliative care, even though these therapies don’t directly attack tumors or destroy malignant cells.

Other benefits of lung cancer palliative care include:

• Accessing care at your convenience: You can receive palliative treatments at a hospital or outpatient health care facilities near you. Sometimes, at-home palliative care services are also available.
• Getting emotional support: Doctors may recommend holistic options like receiving counseling or joining a support group to ease anxiety, grief, or other difficult emotions after a diagnosis.
• Improving energy levels: Issues like sleeplessness, fatigue, and lack of appetite can all affect a lung cancer patient’s energy. Lung cancer palliative care options can help relieve these issues and help patients feel more like themselves.
• Taking charge of your health: Requesting palliative care allows you to communicate with your doctor about your specific needs and goals after a diagnosis.

There’s no shame in requesting palliative care after a lung cancer diagnosis — even early-stage patients can benefit greatly from it.

“Every patient and caregiver deserves the support that palliative care has to offer. By being proactive during treatment, you put the power in your own hands.”

– American Lung Association

How Do I Access Lung Cancer Palliative Care?

The ALA recommends requesting a referral to speak with a lung cancer palliative care specialist around the start of your treatment.

The following people may provide lung cancer palliative care:

• Doctors
• Nurses
• Social workers
• Spiritual or religious advisors

It’s not enough to see a general doctor — many health care providers actually specialize in palliative care, allowing you to get the highest-quality treatment available.

Affording Palliative Lung Cancer Care

While lung cancer palliative care is often crucial for many patients, it can also increase treatment costs.

For example, a 2021 study from JCO Oncology Practice found that lung cancer patients in the last month of life faced costs upwards of $14,100 on average. Patients treated with early palliative care had somewhat lower expenses at $12,700 on average.

The costs of treating lung cancer can be difficult for many families to afford. With that said, it may be possible to afford the care you need through legal action.

Lung cancer compensation awarded through lawsuits can sometimes reach $1 million or more, giving you and your family the means to afford palliative care and other expenses.

Find Palliative Care Options for Lung Cancer

Including palliative care in lung cancer treatment plans is key to improving overall well-being after a diagnosis.

Palliative care is available to patients with any type and stage of lung cancer. Many care teams will encourage receiving it alongside standard therapies for this serious illness.

Lung cancer palliative care:

• Eases symptoms and side effects of treatment
• Helps patients feel more energized and hopeful
• May allow some patients to live longer after a diagnosis
• Puts power back into the hands of the patient

Top lung cancer doctors around the country can provide palliative care to patients facing lung cancer.

Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide today or call (877) 446-5767 for help exploring lung cancer treatments like palliative care and to learn how to afford them.