Part of Your Support System
Samantha has a busy life with her husband and their three lovely children who range in age from 3 to 11. She is also navigating treatments for metastatic breast cancer. When she started to experience serious pain, Sam’s oncologist suggested she meet with members of our Harbor Palliative Care team. They worked with Sam to get her on an effective schedule for pain medication, and Sam says that brought about a “180-degree difference in my level of pain!”
Sam has become an advocate for palliative care.
“I wish I would have had a better understanding of palliative care from the beginning,” she explains. “It could have helped me early on by relieving other symptoms I experienced such as nausea. I’d like people to understand that palliative care is not the same as hospice care. You can continue treatments for your medical condition while the palliative care team works to ease the symptoms and side effects you’re dealing with. They help you feel better. They support you and your doctor in your medical journey. They are a huge part of my support system now.”
“I’m looking forward to being part of a clinical trial that starts soon,” Sam adds. “You never know what the magical cure will be.”
