Travails of the terminally ill and dying with cancer
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics January 1, 2015 Nagraj Huilgol 1 citation
Palliative care for terminally ill patients in India is neglected, with few hospices and patients often dying in isolation and pain. Pain extends beyond the somatic to include loss of dignity, incontinence, disfigurement, and cognitive impairment. Family caregivers face financial crisis, professional disruption, and exhaustion, though some find spiritual catharsis. Anxiety, depression, and existential crisis are common but rarely addressed. Pain management remains undertreated despite options like opioids, nerve blocks, and alternative methods. Spiritual crisis is the most neglected aspect, influenced by religion, belief systems, and past mental illness. Effective communication between caregiver and dying is limited. A small study by Stanislav Grof showed beneficial effects of controlled LSD and psilocybin, and Aldous Huxley died peacefully with LSD, suggesting hallucinogens as an option alongside proven methods.