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Palliative treatment for CLL
In some cases of advanced CLL, the medical team may talk to you about palliative treatment (sometimes called supportive care).
Palliative treatment helps to improve your quality of life by managing the symptoms of leukaemia without trying to cure the disease. Many people think that palliative treatment is for people at the end of their life; however, it can help people at any stage.
As well as slowing the progress of leukaemia, palliative treatment can relieve any pain and help manage other symptoms. Treatment may include blood transfusions and short courses of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or other medicines. If you have ongoing symptoms, ask for a referral to the symptom management or palliative care team.
Palliative treatment is one aspect of palliative care, in which a team of health professionals aims to meet your physical, emotional, cultural, spiritual and social needs. The team also supports families and carers.
For more on this, see Palliative care and Living with advanced cancer.
Video: What is palliative care?
Watch video on how palliative treatment aims to manage symptoms and improve people’s quality of life without trying to cure the disease.
Podcast for people affected by advanced cancer
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More resources
Dr Chun Kei Kris Ma, Clinical Haematologist, Western Sydney Local Health District; Delphine Eggen, Consumer; Dr Robin Gasiorowski, Staff Specialist, Haematology, Concord Hospital; Karl A Jobburn, Haematology Clinical Nurse Consultant, Liverpool Hospital; Yvonne King, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Heather Mackay, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Westmead Hospital; Jennifer Paton, Consumer.
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