Palliative care is the care and support you may need if you have a life-changing condition such as cancer and can be offered at any point during your journey. There is a misconception that palliative care always means end of life and while this is true in some cases, it does not apply to everyone. Ultimately palliative care is about making sure you are able to live and have the best quality of life for as long as you possibly can.
Palliative care for cancer patients focuses on improving quality of life by relieving symptoms and providing support throughout the illness. It is a patient-centered, holistic approach and can be provided alongside other medical treatments. Your GP or your cancer care team may refer you to palliative care if you are struggling with issues that are impacting your quality of life. In cases of advanced cancer, palliative treatment can be used to help someone live a little longer and more comfortably, even if their condition cannot be cured. The type and form of support can vary from person to person, but it often includes:
People also often think that having palliative care means you will have to go into a hospice. This is not always true. Palliative care can be provided in various settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes and at home. The goal is to ensure the best possible quality of life for both the patient and their family.
The points mentioned above are all in sync with Islamic teachings. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stressed the need for spiritual care and emotional support at the time of severe illness. For example, visiting the sick is an important sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as it helps provide much-needed emotional support and strength to the patient and their loved ones.
Muslims believe that illness is a test from Allah Almighty. It is also believed to be an opportunity to purify the soul and as a means of expiation of sins. As Muslims, we believe that our bodies are an amanah (safe keeping) given to us by Allah Almighty and Islam teaches us to look after our bodies throughout our lives, no matter what. This is true even when dealing with diseases like cancer. There is a wealth of Islamic guidance within the Quran and Sunnah on the sanctity of life and the importance of preserving life. It is narrated that a Bedouin once asked the Prophet ﷺ whether we should seek treatment for sickness. The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Yes, O servants of Allah, seek treatment. Verily, Allah did not place a disease but that he also placed its treatment or cure, except for one ailment.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is it?” The Prophet said, “Old age.” (al-Tirmidhī 2038). Muslims believe in seeking treatment for illness, as long as it is halal.
“Every soul will taste death, then to Us you will all be returned.” (Quran, 29:57). Death should not be an unusual concept for a Muslim. In fact, ever since man was born, he was decreed to die. Yet sometimes we can become distracted with living the life of this world that we forget that we are merely passing by and are decreed only to live eternally in the next. Some of us do not get a warning and then leave for the next world abruptly, while others are given time to digest that their final days are near and make changes in their life to turn to Allah Almighty. In essence, life is a journey from Allah to Allah. When dealing with sickness and diseases like cancer, Muslims are encouraged to remain faithful, patient and to turn to Allah Almighty in prayer. This can often help them to remain positive and cope with their symptoms and their overall outlook towards their disease.
Palliative care services are offered across the UK but may vary depending on where you live. Going through a cancer journey is an incredibly emotionally turbulent time and sometimes accessing services can be very confusing. It is important that you have access to the most up to date and accurate information so that if you feel you need additional support, you can access it easily.
Palliative care is often provided by a multidisciplinary team made up of:
Additionally depending on your area, you may have access to other palliative care teams such as:
Caring for a loved one with cancer is often mentally, emotionally and physically draining. The family members also need to be looked after. After all, you cannot pour from an empty cup. Respite care may be available in your area that would give the carers a chance to rest and recuperate as well. It is extremely important to ask for support if you feel you or a loved one needs it.
Often, within Muslim communities’ people are hesitant to ask for help or to seek help from people outside of their family. It is important that we help to break down these barriers as much as we can and encourage people to ask for help when they need it.
“There is a reluctance for Muslim families to use these services, and I have spoken to service providers who have assured me that they are happy to make any culturally specific adjustments to accommodate more people using their services. I would recommend Muslim families engaging with respite services and other locally commissioned services, to support them when providing care for family members who have cancer.” Kamran* writes in a blog on the Safeena website.
He goes on to say: “These respite services provide support and allow families to provide better care for the people they love. My experience is that they will not take over, and they will enable better and more supported care for family members, either at home or in hospital. If you or your family are in this situation, please do not hesitate to reach out and access what support there is out there. Let them help you help your loved ones.”
If your cancer gets worse or spreads in the body, despite treatment, then the illness becomes terminal. Often, this is connected to an overall worsening in someone’s health condition including weight loss, poor appetite, weakness and increasing drowsiness.
The focus of care is then to improve the quality of a person’s life as much as is possible, and to prepare for end of life. This includes healthcare professionals understanding what is important to a person and their loved ones at this time, and what preferences they might have, such as where they wish to be looked after.
Some people express a wish to be at home to spend their last days, others may wish to be in a hospice, or in a hospital. End of life care can be given in each place to make sure you are as comfortable as possible. Depending on where you are, health care professionals trained in end-of-life care can give support.
This relieves the burden of them trying to guess what you would want or missing something important. In addition, important practical and religious preparation can be made so that in the final days the focus can be on comfort, dignity and preparing to return to Allah Almighty.
Islamic guidance clearly states what should happen when a person approaches the end of their life and at the time of passing. This is naturally a very emotional time for the family and sometimes it can be difficult to ensure that these practices are carried out. This is where close family and friends can play an important role if they are present.
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (Qur’an 13: 28). As a person approaches the end of their life it is recommended for them to remember Allah Almighty as much as possible whether that’s by reciting the shahadah or verses of the Quran. If the patient is unable to recite themselves, then family members are encouraged to recite for them. As mentioned in the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, Surah Yasin, Surah al-Fatihah, Ayat-ul-Kursi, Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah al-Falaq and Surah al-Naas are often recited by the bedside of the patient towards the end of life.
Dealing with the death of a loved one is never easy. It doesn’t matter how much time you have had to prepare yourself; you never know how you or someone you love will react to someone dying. Grief manifests itself in different ways in everyone and being able to access the right support following any death is critical and an important element for individuals and families to help them to deal with loss. Safeena Muslim Cancer Support Network has recently launched our new Bereavement service. Our fully trained volunteers are there to support you through this journey.
The following organisations can provide further information and support around palliative and end of life care:
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