Dr. Raksha Kundal & Dr. Sunana Gupta
When someone learns they have cancer, the first thoughts are usually about surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. These treatments are crucial and can save lives, but there is another component of the cancer journey that is less visible yet equally significant: the mental, emotional, behavioural and spiritual challenges faced by patients and their families.
A lot of stress comes from anxiety about the future, finances, medical care, sleep difficulties, and being alone in hospital rooms. Often, coping with this invisible suffering is harder than dealing with physical pain. Palliative care is a field of medicine that addresses not only the body but also the mind and spirit.
What Does “Distress” Mean?
International cancer experts use the term “distress” to describe the negative feelings and experiences – whether psychological, social, or spiritual – that make it difficult for a patient to cope with their condition. Distress is a broader and more compassionate term than anxiety or depression, which are medical conditions often stigmatized.
Patients may not necessarily be clinically depressed but may still feel fearful, sad, angry, hopeless or isolated. They may worry about treatment effectiveness, the future of their children, or family finances. While such feelings are normal, unacknowledged distress can reduce resilience, hinder adherence to treatment, and worsen overall well-being.
Why It’s Important to Assess Distress
Caregivers often focus solely on the tumor – scans, blood tests and surgeries. However, increasing evidence shows that patients receiving both medical treatment and emotional support have significantly better outcomes.
One widely used tool is the “Distress Thermometer”, where patients rate their distress on a scale from 0 to 10. This helps clinicians identify those in need of additional support. Unfortunately, many patients suffer in silence, fearing judgment or being perceived as weak. This highlights the need for healthcare systems to address mental wellness routinely and proactively.
Palliative Care: More Than Just Healing
Many people mistakenly believe palliative care is only for the terminal stages of illness. In fact, it is relevant from diagnosis through all stages. According to the World Health Organization, palliative care improves the quality of life for patients and families by addressing physical, emotional, social and spiritual pain. It complements curative treatments rather than replacing them.
How Palliative Care Supports Emotional Well-Being
Palliative care professionals look beyond medical charts, listening carefully to patients’ concerns. This approach fosters a sense of control, dignity and hope, including attention to spiritual needs. Many patients ask questions like, “Why me?” or “What does this suffering mean?” Palliative care respects each individual’s beliefs and provides comfort aligned with their values and faith.
AIIMS Jammu: A Dedicated Palliative Care Service
AIIMS Jammu has established a dedicated Palliative Care OPD, operational Monday to Friday, recognizing the importance of holistic support. The clinic offers a safe space for patients to discuss emotional concerns, receive assessment and counselling for distress, and manage pain, fatigue, and treatment-related side effects. It also addresses social challenges, facilitates caregiver support and ensures access to spiritual and social resources tailored to individual needs. This initiative underscores AIIMS Jammu’s commitment to comprehensive patient care, addressing not just physical symptoms but also emotional, socialand spiritual well-being.
A Family-Centred Approach
Cancer affects not only the patient but the entire family. Children worry silently, couples face hidden challenges, and older parents may feel helpless. Palliative care helps caregivers manage stress, prevent burnout and maintain emotional strength. By empowering families, it strengthens the patient’s support system and reminds everyone that healing involves resilience, love and compassion, not just disease management.
Reducing the Social Stigma
Mental health remains a sensitive issue in our society. Many patients fear judgment and hesitate to express emotional distress. Healthcare practitioners encourage patients to use the term “distress” instead of psychiatric labels, helping normalize conversations around emotional well-being.
Finally, fighting cancer requires more than medications and equipment; it requires courage, emotional strength and spiritual resilience. While doctors and treatments manage the disease, palliative care works to alleviate suffering, restore dignity and enhance overall quality of life for patients and their families.
(The writer Dr. Raksha Kundal is Associate Professor, Anaesthesiology, AIIMS Jammu and Dr. Sunana Gupta is Additional Professor, Anaesthesiology, AIIMS Jammu)
