Gov. Paul LePage recently vetoed a bill that would improve increased access to palliative care for those suffering from chronic disease. But thanks to the Legislature’s recent override of this veto, the thousands of Mainers diagnosed with cancer each year will be able to live with a higher quality of life.

When my husband, Leroy, was diagnosed with stage II esophageal cancer in May 2013, we knew we had a tough road ahead. After Leroy’s first surgery in Waterville, I remember he was petrified when he woke up to the myriad tubes and monitoring devices. That’s when we were referred to the palliative care team at MaineGeneral Health.

Leroy’s pain was considerable, and the staff was able to quickly help get his pain under control.

While many people think cancer and pain go hand in hand, we learned that cancer patients should never accept pain as a normal part of having cancer. Our palliative care team helped us to understand that all pain can be treated, and most pain can be controlled or relieved.

In addition to attending to symptoms of disease and side effects of treatments, palliative care includes an assessment of patients’ goals for their care and is appropriate at any age and at any stage of disease. Palliative care can improve quality of life for both the patient and the family by including patients and their support network in the decisions they make throughout the course of their disease.

On behalf of the almost 9,000 people expected to be diagnosed with cancer in Maine this year and the many others with serious medical conditions, I applaud my legislators, Rep. Charlotte Warren, D-Hallowell, and Sen. Earle McCormick, R-West Gardiner, for taking a stand in the name of quality of life.

Margaret Harrington, volunteer

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Manchester

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