- Home
- About Cancer
- Advanced cancer
- Facing end of life
- Practical concerns
Practical concerns
Getting your affairs in order can be an important task in the final stages of life.
Learn more about:
- Planning for the end of life
- Organising your paperwork
- Advance care planning
- Preparing legal documents
- Making funeral plans
- Saying goodbye
We explain what advance care planning is and why you need it, as well as the medical, legal and other issues to consider at this time.
Planning for the end of life
Taking steps to plan for the end of life can be both rewarding and difficult. It may help you to feel more in control of the situation or give you a sense of relief that the people and possessions that mean something to you will be looked after in the future. Or you may wish to ease the burden on family members or friends.
→ READ MORE: Organising your paperwork
Podcast: Living with Dying
Listen to more episodes of our podcast for people affected by cancer
More resources
Prof Jane Phillips, Head, School of Nursing and Professor, Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Queensland University of Technology and Emerita Professor Palliative Nursing, University of Technology Sydney, NSW; Prof Meera Agar, Palliative Care Physician, Professor of Palliative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, IMPACCT, Sydney, NSW; Sandra Anderson, Consumer; A/Prof Megan Best, The University of Notre Dame Australia and The University of Sydney, NSW; Prof Lauren Breen, Psychologist and Discipline Lead, Psychology, Curtin University, WA; David Dawes, Manager, Spiritual Care Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Rob Ferguson, Consumer; Gabrielle Gawne-Kelnar, Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Social Worker, One Life Counselling & Psychotherapy, NSW; Justine Hatton, Senior Social Worker, Southern Adelaide Palliative Services, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Caitlin MacDonagh, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Palliative Care, Royal North Shore Hospital, Northern Sydney Local Health District, NSW; McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer; Palliative Care Australia; Belinda Reinhold, Acting Lead Palliative Care, Cancer Council QLD; Xanthe Sansome, National Program Director, Advance Care Planning Australia; Kirsty Trebilcock, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
View all publications or call 13 11 20 for free printed copies.
Need to talk?
Support services
Need legal and financial assistance?
Pro bono services, financial and legal assistance, and no interest loans
Coping with cancer?
Speak to a health professional or to someone who has been there, or find a support group or forum
Cancer information
Advanced cancer
Information for all stages of advanced cancer, from the initial diagnosis to palliative care and grief
Legal and financial issues fact sheets
Download PDFs on the common legal, financial and workplace issues that people affected by cancer often face