Speaking of Women's Health Podcast host Dr. Holly Thacker sits down with Dr. Audrey Henson to have a clear, honest conversation about what palliative care actually means and what it does for real people facing serious illness. Dr. Audrey Henson explains a simple truth most people never hear: all hospice care is palliative, but not all palliative care is hospice. That one distinction can change when families ask for help and how long patients get to benefit from symptom relief and support.
Drs. Thacker and Henson talk about where palliative care fits in chronic and advanced disease, including cancer, heart failure, COPD, kidney disease, and neurologic conditions like ALS and Parkinson disease. Then they go straight to the fears patients tell us about most: pain and air hunger. They unpack why the goal is function, not sedation, how anxiety and depression can intensify pain, and why today’s opioid stigma sometimes leaves people suffering unnecessarily. Dr. Henson also shares how palliative teams address addiction risk realistically with monitoring and individualized plans, especially for patients who may live months to years.
