Palliative care can be started at any point of the cancer care right from diagnosis to the end f life. The patient receives cancer treatment along with palliative care. On the other hand, hospice care only begins when the curative treatment is over. The only focus of hospice care, thus, is to improve the quality of life of the patient after cancer treatment.

Palliative care helps patients and their families at every step of cancer from diagno- sis to treatment and even to hospice care. It helps them by:

• Preparing them for the physical changes that may occur during and after the treatment.
• Helping them cope with different emotional issues and thoughts during their treatment.
• Providing the necessary support to the patient families or caregivers.