2018 World Hospice & Palliative care Day Celebration in Beijing Cancer Hospital

Event Date:

A series of activities was hosted by Beijing Cancer Hospital Palliative Care Centre & Day Care Centre under theme of ” World Hospice and Palliative Care Day—We are on the way” to celebrate World Hospice and Palliative Care Day in 13 October, 2018. The celebration started with a lecture. Palliative care medical team introduced the theme for World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2018: Palliative Care-Because I Matter. This year is the centenary of Dame Cicely Saunders as well. She was one of great founders of the modern hospice movement. So it is fitting that this year’s theme draws its wording from her iconic quote: ‘You matter because you are you and you matter until the end of your life’. Furthermore，Palliative care medical team elaborated on the aims of palliative care, the importance and necessity of early palliative care in the holistic process of disease management to the patients and family members. Meanwhile, the plan of establishing a “no vomiting, painless, no thrombosis” Day Care ward was introduced to further promote the individualized treatment for cancer patients coping with incidence of side effects. After the lecture, palliative care medical team doctors and Day Care ward nurses take ‘blessing you’ cards to patients to wish them early recovery and encouraged patients asking for palliative care medical team’s help if they have difficulties with the needs-medical, social, practical, spiritual. The interactive atmosphere of the communication was warm and touching. It helps patients express their true thoughts and needs, as well as improving their consciousness to palliative care. The day also included an activity of showing movie in palliative care unit. Cinema therapy, often called ‘film therapy’ or ‘movie therapy’ is a process which allows therapists to use the effect of imagery, plot, music, etc. in films on patients’ psyches for insight, inspiration, emotional release and natural change. One patient said he never thought he could see a movie in a ward. The movie helped he staving off the ravages of boredom and relieving discomfort caused by chemotherapy. The palliative service provided by Beijing Cancer Hospital Palliative Care Centre & Day Care Centre is moving towards standardization and precision, aiming at achieving international advanced level.

Organisation

Beijing Cancer Hospital

Beneficiary

cancer patients and family members