Cancer - For Physicians
To qualify for hospice, patients must have:
Progression of disease evidenced by at least one of the following:
- Increasing symptoms
- Worsening lab values
- Metastatic disease evidenced by scans, MRI, x-ray, biopsy, etc.
Disease Stage IV at presentation or progression from an earlier stage of disease to metastatic disease with either of the following.
- Patient continues to decline in spite of definitive therapy (i.e. chemo, radiation, surgical intervention)
- Patient is refractory or refuses further disease directed therapy.
The following factors are not absolutely necessary to qualify for hospice, but lend support:
- Recurrent disease after radiation, chemotherapy, or surgical intervention
- Weight loss of 5% or more in the last three months
- Presence of other comorbid conditions
Cancer - For Families
When is is time for end-stage Cancer hospice care?
Answering these questions may serve as a guide:
- Are your (or your loved one’s) medications no longer effective in managing symptoms?
- Are you (or your loved one) rapidly weakening while the malignancy progresses?
- Are you (or your loved one) ready to seek “aggressive comfort care” instead of aggressive treatment?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, now may be an appropriate time to discuss DaySpring Hospice with your physician or one of our clinical professionals. Feel free to call us directly at (888) 615-6646.