The phenomenon of hope as an inseparable part of oncology patient care in the terminal disease stage

Overview

Background: Cancer is one of the most serious, life-threatening diseases, where patient care is not solely focused on medical aspects. In the terminal stages of the disease, there is enormous emotional burden and fear of the patient about the final phase of their life –⁠ the period of dying and, ultimately, death itself. Conversations about impending death still tend to be taboo topics within our society. They demand from the physician communication skills and the ability to provide hope until the very end. Although hope plays an irreplaceable role even in hopeless situations, such as those encountered in the terminal stage of an illness, we often give it only minimal attention. We overlook the fact that every person, in every situation, hopes, since hope can take different forms. For one person, it might be a miraculous cure, while for another, it may be the impending death that conclusively ends their suffering. A lack of empathy, understanding, and often spiritual support, which the patients expects from their physicians, can lead to a reduction in their quality of life and their ability to cope with the terminal stage of illness. Aim: The aim of this work is to highlight the need to initiate conversations about the pre-terminal and terminal phases of the disease, despite the challenging need of high standard ethical behaviour of those involved. If we want to be a support for the dying, we must learn to experience these sacred moments with the patients, in a way that they feel a kinship of souls. We must know how to earn their trust and establish a sincere personal relationship, through which we also offer hope –⁠ that they will not be alone in facing the final stage of life. Simultaneously, we aim to underscore the necessity of establishing new hospices and palliative care departments. Specialists in palliative and hospice care approach the dying person differently, providing management not only of physical pain but also of psychological, mental, and spiritual suffering. They no longer fight against death, but accept it as an inseparable part of life.

Keywords:

Fear – death – terminal care – empathy – phenomenon of hope