What is it?

Palliative care is aimed at at improving the quality of life for you and the rest of your family by looking at your physical, practical, emotional and spiritual needs.

It’s not about ending life early (this is euthanasia and is illegal in Australia) and it’s not about prolonging life at all costs.

How long does it last?

You can receive palliative care for as little as a week or for a year or more. It will depend on when you get referred to the palliative care team. The earlier the referral is made the better your symptoms can be managed and all of your needs looked at.

Remember: Just because you're receiving palliative care doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to die soon.

However being referred to palliative care services does mean that the cancer cannot be cured and that you will die from the disease at some stage.

Being referred to palliative care will be a really tough time for you and your family. It will mean you have to think about and deal with a whole lot of stuff that is scary and at times just too hard to contemplate.

Who is involved?

The palliative care team is made up of the following people who deal with all aspects of the patient's care:

Palliative care specialists

• Prescribe treatment for pain, nausea and other symptoms.
• Communicate with and advise the oncologist and the local doctor so that treatment is coordinated.

Nurses

• Work out what help you need including day to day stuff.
• Help with taking medication and managing any pain or symptoms.

Social workers

• Provide counselling.
• Give you and your family emotional support.
• Can connect you and your family with other services.

Psychologist/counsellor

• Gives you and your family the chance to talk about your fears and work through your feelings.
• Teaches you strategies to handle anxiety and exercises to help with emotional and physical pain.

Family doctor

• Looks after your day to day health issues if you are at home.
• Liaises with the nurse and/or specialist about your ongoing care.
• Arranges admission to hospital or a hospice if things change.

Dietician

• Works out an eating plan for you.
• Helps with poor appetite, nausea and constipation.

Physiotherapist and occupational therapist

• Helps with managing things like walking, showering, getting in and out of bed (this can get hard due to pain or the effects of advanced cancer).
• Can teach other family members how to do these things.

Not all of these people will be involved, it will depend on the needs of you and your family.

What about treatment?

Being in palliative care doesn’t mean that your treatment will be stopped, it just means that the reason for the treatment has changed.

Instead of curing it, your treatment will now focus on managing pain, nausea and other side effects of the cancer.

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can still be used in palliative care as well as medication for things like anxiety and depression.

Remember: You have the right to expect the very best treatment and care that is available. You have nothing to lose by being bossy.

Where do you get it?

You can receive palliative care:

• at home
• in hospital (there might be a specialist palliative care unit)
• in a hospice (a place that specialises in caring for terminal patients)

Sometimes people move between places depending on the type of care they need. If your symptoms are managed well, then you will be more able to focus on doing the things that you want to do.

Remember: The aim of palliative care is to assist you to have the best quality of life for as long as possible.