What is it?

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

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

How long does it last?

• They can receive palliative care for as little as a week or for a year or more. 

• It will depend on when they get referred to the palliative care team. 

• The earlier the referral is made the better their symptoms can be managed and all of their needs looked at.

Remember: Just because your brother or sister is receiving palliative care doesn’t necessarily mean that they are going to die soon.

• However being referred to palliative care services does mean that the cancer cannot be cured and that they will die from the disease at some stage. Yes that sucks. (And yes that is an understatement).

• 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 your brother or sister needs including day to day stuff.

• Help with taking medication and managing any pain or symptoms.

Social workers

• Provide counselling.

• Give your sibling 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 your brother or sister strategies to handle anxiety and exercises to help with emotional and physical pain.

Family doctor

• Looks after your sibling's day to day health issues if they are at home.

• Liaises with the nurse and/or specialist about their ongoing care.

• Arranges admission to hospital or a hospice if things change.

Dietician

• Works out an eating plan for your mum or dad.

• 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 for them 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 your brother or sister and your family.

What about treatment?

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

• Instead of curing it, your brother or sister's 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: Your sibling has the right to expect the very best treatment and care that is available.

Where do you get it?

Your brother or sister 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 their symptoms are managed well, then they are more able to focus on doing the things that they want to do.

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