Palliative care is far from doing nothing.
Patients with advanced disease need to understand the benefits and burdens of each treatment offered. The palliative care team will work closely with the patient and family to define their goals of treatment and care. Palliative care may not provide the cure that many patients hope for, but it can provide symptom relief and improved quality of life. This pain also affects families and relationships. Palliative care involves a specially trained team working with patients and their families to find the cause of the pain and the best way to relieve it.