The goal of palliative treatment for cancer patients is to:

• A. Test treatments on patients with terminal disease.
• B. Qualify for hospice care.
• C. Alleviate symptoms to improve the quality of life symptoms.
• D. Both b and c.

Answer: (C)

Palliative care centers on relieving suffering and supporting function for people with serious illness. Its main aim is to control distressing symptoms—pain, shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue—while also addressing emotional and social needs, with the goal of improving overall quality of life. That’s why alleviating symptoms to enhance quality of life is the best answer. Testing new treatments in terminal disease is about research, not comfort-focused care. Hospice is a service for end-of-life care; while palliative care can overlap with or precede hospice, the core purpose of palliative treatment is symptom relief and quality-of-life improvement.