[Hospice program and palliative medicine].

Hospice and palliative care have important roles for cancer patients in an incurable state to alleviate their total pain and to achieve the best quality of life. Interdisciplinary team-doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers and so on provide effective support in order to fulfill the varying needs of patients and families. Pain relief as a palliative medicine is most urgently required by seventy percent of patients on admission to our Hospice at the Salvation Army Kiyose Hospital. A case is presented with some comments on pain management. Music therapy is also introduced. This is one of the complementary methods for consolation of the mind and body of patients. Some of them seem to find it beneficial.