When most people hear about palliative care, they worry it means their treatment team has given up hope or they may die soon. This fear may stop people using palliative care services.
Palliative care aims to maintain quality of life for people living with a life-limiting illness. It’s about helping you to live as fully as you can and in a way that is meaningful to you, within the limits of your illness. You don’t have to stop your cancer treatment to have palliative care. And you don’t always have to be admitted to a hospital or palliative care unit permanently.
Some people live comfortably for months or years after a diagnosis of advanced cancer, and can be supported by palliative care as needed. They may have palliative care for a period of time and then stop when their condition is stable. For others, the cancer advances quickly, and their care is focused on end-of-life needs soon after their referral to a palliative care service. Whatever stage you’re at, your palliative care team will adjust your care to meet your preferences and changing needs.
I just have to live my life day by day. I can’t predict my future, I can’t plan things in the future. But what I can do is love every day and I truly do.
Anne
→ READ MORE: When can I start palliative care?
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Prof Meera Agar, Palliative Care Physician, Professor of Palliative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, IMPACCT, Sydney, NSW; Anne Booms, Nurse Practitioner, Palliative Care, Icon Cancer Centre Midlands, WA; Nicola Champion, Consumer; John Clements, Consumer; Dr Alexandra Clinch, Palliative Medicine Specialist and Deputy Director, Palliative Care, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIC; A/Prof Jaklin Eliott, School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, SA; Dr Jemma Gilchrist, Clinical Psychologist, Mind My Health, NSW; McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer, VIC; Caitlin MacDonagh, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Palliative Care, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Dr Roya Merie, Radiation Oncologist, Icon Cancer Centre, Concord, NSW; Dr Deidre Morgan, Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying, Flinders University, SA; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Palliative Care Australia.
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