What is palliative treatment?
Palliative treatment helps to improve people’s quality of life by managing the symptoms of cancer without trying to cure the disease. It is best thought of as supportive care.
When is it used?
Many people think that palliative treatment is for people at the end of their life; however, it can help people at any stage of advanced lymphoma to improve quality of life – it does not mean giving up hope. Palliative treatment can help some people with advanced lymphoma live well and with few symptoms for many months or years.
How does it help?
As well as slowing the spread of cancer, palliative treatment can relieve pain and help manage other symptoms. Treatment may include short courses of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or other medicines. If you are experiencing ongoing symptoms, ask for a referral to the symptom management or palliative care team.
What is palliative care?
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. Your care may be led by a specialist palliative care team or by your GP and a community nurse.
Learn more about palliative care and living with advanced cancer, and listen to our advanced cancer podcast.
→ READ MORE: Life after treatment for lymphoma
Video: What is palliative care?
Podcast: Treatment Options for Advanced Cancer
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More resources
Dr Ian Bilmon, Haematologist, Westmead Hospital and Sydney Adventist Hospital, NSW; Suzanne Basha, Consumer; Jo Cryer, Clinical Nurse Consultant Haematology, St George Hospital, NSW; Jessica Elliott, Senior Social Worker, Youth Cancer Services, Crown Princess Mary Centre Westmead, NSW; Dr Robin Gasiorowski, Haematologist, Concord and Macquarie University Hospitals, NSW; Prof Angela Hong, Radiation Oncologist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Melanoma Institute Australia, GenesisCare, and Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney, NSW; Karen Maddock, CAR T Cell and Cell Therapy Nurse Practitioner, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Jenn Partenfelder, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Elise Toyer, Clinical Nurse Consultant Haematology, Blacktown Hospital, NSW.
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