Ken Haglind oversees the operations of Minnesota Hospice as the company’s president. Under Ken Haglind's leadership, Minnesota Hospice provides palliative and end-of-life care for people with many diseases, including cancer.
Palliative care for cancer can start at any stage of the disease, with symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, constipation, and digestive trouble often starting well in advance of the end of life. Palliative care physicians help manage these symptoms, enabling oncologists to focus on treating the core disease.
Some elements of palliative care work in conjunction with treatment, especially during early stages. Anti-nausea medication or integrative therapy can help make treatments such as chemotherapy more bearable.
Later on, palliative care may become the primary focus as the hope of remission diminishes. Palliative care physicians perform radiation therapy or surgery to shrink tumors or diminish the impact tumors have on patients’ daily lives, enabling them to be more comfortable.
Palliative care often focuses on the elements of life a patient considers most important. For example, a patient with tumor-related vision loss might be interested in regaining some of his or her sight, while another patient might choose to accept the vision loss if it means less pain or fewer surgeries. During palliative care, patients work with their doctors to find agreeable, comfortable courses of treatment.
Palliative care for cancer can start at any stage of the disease, with symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, constipation, and digestive trouble often starting well in advance of the end of life. Palliative care physicians help manage these symptoms, enabling oncologists to focus on treating the core disease.
Some elements of palliative care work in conjunction with treatment, especially during early stages. Anti-nausea medication or integrative therapy can help make treatments such as chemotherapy more bearable.
Later on, palliative care may become the primary focus as the hope of remission diminishes. Palliative care physicians perform radiation therapy or surgery to shrink tumors or diminish the impact tumors have on patients’ daily lives, enabling them to be more comfortable.
Palliative care often focuses on the elements of life a patient considers most important. For example, a patient with tumor-related vision loss might be interested in regaining some of his or her sight, while another patient might choose to accept the vision loss if it means less pain or fewer surgeries. During palliative care, patients work with their doctors to find agreeable, comfortable courses of treatment.
