palliative care specialist
(PA-lee-uh-tiv kayr SPEH-shuh-list)
A health care professional who has special training in providing care to people who have a serious or life-threatening disease, such as cancer. Palliative care specialists prevent or treat as early as possible the symptoms of a disease, side effects caused by treatment of a disease, and psychological, social, and spiritual problems related to a disease or its treatment. They also provide family and caregiver support and coordinate communication between other members of the health care team.