What is the primary goal of palliative care in the context of oncology?

The focus of palliative care in oncology is primarily on enhancing the quality of life for patients facing serious illnesses such as cancer. This approach prioritizes symptom management, physical, emotional, and psychological support, and ensuring that patients can maintain as much comfort and dignity as possible throughout their treatment journey.

Palliative care acknowledges that while curative treatment may be a goal in some cases, the realities of advanced cancer often mean that the primary objective shifts towards providing relief from pain and other distressing symptoms. This holistic approach allows patients to live as fully as possible, aligning medical interventions with their personal values and care preferences.

In contrast, curing cancer or focusing solely on extending life without regard to quality sacrifices the patient's comfort and overall well-being, which goes against the intentions of palliative care. Additionally, reducing healthcare costs is not an inherent goal of palliative care; instead, the priority is the patient's quality of life, which can sometimes coincide with providing more cost-effective care but is primarily centered on support and comfort.