What palliative care is
Palliative care for cancer is the general term for the treatment, care, and support given for the various forms of distress, whether pain or a practical difficulty, that a cancer patient may experience. Even where a cure is not possible, easing distress and addressing day-to-day difficulties during treatment aims to make each day more liveable, with the patient's quality of life as the goal.
Where palliative care can be received
Even a patient not pursuing active cancer treatment does not necessarily need immediate admission. Palliative care can be received through outpatient visits, home visits, or visiting nursing care, generally falling into four settings.
Palliative outpatient clinic
An outpatient clinic focused on relieving distressing symptoms, rather than on treating the cancer itself.
At home
Where travelling to hospital becomes difficult, or a patient wishes to spend time at home, palliative care can be provided at home through a physician's home visit or visiting nursing care.
A hospital palliative care ward
For patients for whom continuing standard treatment is no longer suitable, this setting provides specialist palliative care as an inpatient, generally focused on symptom relief and a peaceful environment. A transition back home can also be arranged if the patient wishes.
Hospice-style residential care
A residential setting with a home-like atmosphere, where a patient can live while receiving home-based care.
Our approach
This hospital's Palliative Care Ward opened in 1996, among the earliest in Tokyo's twenty-three special wards. We practise whole-person care, guided by our philosophy, to make man whole through Christ's love, serving each person, respecting each patient's life story, thinking, and values to the fullest. Physicians and nurses specialising in palliative medicine lead a team that also includes home-care staff, pharmacists, dietitians, a chaplain, medical social workers, and volunteers, working together to address each patient's physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs, in support of a patient's own wishes through an important time.
Our palliative care ward provides specialist care around the clock, every day of the year. Home visits from physicians and nurses at our outpatient building support home-based care, with prompt admission arranged when needed.
To book a visit, please use the form or call us. You can give up to three preferred dates, and choose from multiple time slots for each.