Palliative Care

It was because of family history when i signed up for the cancer and palliative seminar. I expected it to be grim, solemn and depressing. In some ways, it was that way but a realisation came together with it. That our system could be improved upon and there are many people that work tirelessly to make cancer care better. Hats off to those people. 

There were many instances in the talk that specialists would lament, on the facilities being there but patients are not coming forth. I find it personally alarming that our education system has not brought awareness to the public. Taboo,isolation and public shaming about cancer still exist today. Even in some medical fraternity minds. 

With this talk, i count my blessings because when my grandma was dying of cancer, my aunt who was a nurse knew how to take help from hospice, educated my family members on taking care of my grandmother. I guess in our setting, only those with members in the medical line would know what to do. It is indeed unnerving. 

My whole week had alot of exposure with palliative in it. I met a palliative specialist who shared some info with us. I have to say, this is my first encounter with a palliative specialist, and the first impression was,wow, this is exactly what i imagined a palliative specialist to be. Call it admiration in the first sight. Palliative care is a subspecialty. Not many would made it into this level, however palliative nursing is gaining abit of popularity. There is something in this specialist demeanor, the calmness in composure and articulation of words. Every word was said in harmony and appropriateness. Indeed, google told me i am looking at one of our countrys pioneer in palliative care. It is indeed an eyeopener.

http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/People/2014/10/23/Born-with-a-threechambered-heart-a-young-man-learns-to-make-the-most-of-each-day/

The article above would tell us an inspiring story of a young gentleman who has a univentricular heart and who is living each day to the fullest.

Reading about him and meeting him in real life is very different. There is something about him,his cyanism, his forthcoming opinions, his openness about his condition. At first i couldnt really describe him, till now, i cant.

Thanks to him, we gained a little insight into palliative care medicine. Hopefully this brief meeting would help us all be better physicians and care givers. 

It is such topics in medical education that gains very little attention but needless to say, it matters the most in real life. These are all the fine tunings to be a better care giver.