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When you’re faced with a new cancer diagnosis, it’s natural to want to start treatment as soon as possible. But before you dive in, it’s also important to make an informed choice about your treatment plan. That’s why you need to know the ins and outs of a common term used in oncology: “palliative chemotherapy.” Let’s unravel this term so that you know what questions to ask your oncologist if you’re being offered palliative chemotherapy.

What Is Palliative Chemotherapy?

Let’s start with the hard part. The phrase “palliative chemotherapy” typically refers to chemotherapy that your oncologist does not expect to lead to remission or cure. In other words, palliative chemotherapy is exclusively intended to help manage symptoms related to the cancer and – ideally – improve the quality of your life.

Why Call It Palliative Chemo?

You might wonder why it’s called palliative chemo instead of something more straight-forward like “non-curative chemo.” Medical terminology is often vague and even frustrating, and this phrase is no exception. But now that you understand what it means, you have an opportunity to take control of your treatment plan. Here are three key questions to ask your oncologist as you consider a palliative chemotherapy treatment plan.

1. “When you say palliative chemotherapy, that means there’s no cure, right?”

This question is about more than the literal answer—which you now already know the answer to. This question is more about gauging how your doctor communicates uncomfortable truths. Some people prefer a doctor who sugarcoats things, while others want blunt honesty. Observe how your doctor responds. If their communication style feels right to you, that’s a good sign for your ongoing relationship.

2. “What is my best and worst case scenario with this treatment?”

With this question, you’re seeking clarity on the expected timeframe you have. Understanding whether you’re looking at months, a year, or more can significantly influence life and treatment decisions. Knowing the potential time you gain can help you decide whether to endure the treatment side effects or prioritize other life experiences.

3. “Can we promise that we’ll talk about my other options if this treatment isn’t supporting my quality of life?”

The focus here is on crafting a treatment plan that aligns with what you value most. Perhaps it’s spending time with family, attending a graduation or wedding, or simply extending life regardless of condition. Lead this conversation to ensure your treatment pathway supports your personal goals. For many, this will at some point include a conversation about transitioning to hospice care in order to prioritize peace and comfort at home. If you’d like your oncologist to be open with when they would recommend hospice for you, be sure to tell them that explicitly.

Taking Control of Your Care

The ultimate aim is to ensure that you are at the heart of your treatment plan—rather than the cancer itself. Engaging in these conversations not only helps you make informed decisions but also asserts your role in your care process. If you find these questions useful, consider sharing them with others who might benefit.

Closing Advice

If palliative chemotherapy is on the table, make sure your oncologist also offers you palliative care. This complementary care focuses on quality of life and symptom management, which is indispensable during treatment. And most importantly, you can receive the support of a palliative care team alongside your cancer treatments.

Stay informed, stay empowered, and remember—you’ve got this!

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Nausea is miserable, isn’t it?

We are fortunate to have many anti-nausea medications to choose from these days. But what are you supposed to do when you have nausea that’s so bad that you can’t keep down the pills that are supposed to make your nausea better? 

Here are 3 medications that you can use relieve nausea at home that you don’t have to swallow – plus a bonus home remedy for nausea you can try out too!

Disclaimer: I want to be explicit that these are prescription medications, and this post is simply intended to help you have a more informed discussion with your doctor. Your doctor who knows your whole medical situation should make the final call if any of these options make sense for you specifically.

  • Zofran (ondansetron). If you’ve even been prescribed a medication for nausea there’s a good chance it was Zofran. It’s a fairly common one. But what you might not know is that zofran also comes in ODTs – oral dissolving tablets. Handy when you can’t keep the regular tablets down.
  • Olanzapine. There is another anti-nausea pill that comes in oral dissolving tabs, and that’s olanzapine, also known as Zyprexa. It has a completely different mechanism of action, so it’s a good option to pivot to if ondansetron isn’t working for you. But remember you will need be clear you are getting the oral dissolving tabs specifically otherwise there’s a good chance the pharmacy will dispense the regular tabs you have to swallow.

An important aside about olanzapine. If you look up olanzapine, you will find that it is often used to treat psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia. Many folks are alarmed when they learn this, but the reason for this overlap is that the neurotransmitter dopamine is involved with A LOT. Too much or too little dopamine is responsible for a host of neuropsychiatric illnesses, and dopamine is also one of the main neurotransmitters involved in making you feel nauseated. Rest assured, being prescribed olanzapine for nausea does not mean your doctor has diagnosed you with mental illness!

  • Scopolamine. Scopolamine comes in a patch that you place behind the ear and change once every 3 days. No swallowing required. Scopolamine can be especially useful if you’re having nausea that gets worse when you move your head. 

Now here’s a home remedy you can try for nausea that has some decent evidence behind it: alcohol pads! Yes, isopropyl alcohol, the main ingredient on those alcohol pads you buy over the counter can significantly relieve nausea within just a few minutes. You just put the wipe a bit below your nose, and inhale deeply. It doesn’t work for everyone, but plenty of people swear by this trick.

Hope this helps!

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