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Palliative treatment

In some cases of advanced melanoma, the medical team may talk to you about palliative treatment. Palliative treatment aims to improve people’s quality of life by managing the symptoms of cancer without trying to cure the disease. It can be used at any stage of advanced cancer and does not mean giving up hope. Some people have palliative treatment as well as active treatment of the melanoma.

When used as palliative treatment, radiation therapy and medicines can help manage symptoms caused by advanced melanoma, such as pain, nausea and shortness of breath.

Palliative treatment is one aspect of palliative care, in which a team of health professionals aims to meet your physical, emotional, cultural, social and spiritual needs. The team also supports families and carers.

For more on this, see Palliative care and Living with advanced cancer.

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Watch this video on how palliative treatment aims to manage symptoms and improve people’s quality of life without trying to cure the disease.

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Understanding Palliative Care

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This information was last reviewed in January 2021. View who reviewed this content.

A/Prof Robyn Saw, Surgical Oncologist, Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW; Craig Brewer, Consumer; Prof Bryan Burmeister, Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay Hospital, QLD; Tamara Dawson, Consumer, Melanoma & Skin Cancer Advocacy Network; Prof Georgina Long, Co-Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia, and Chair, Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research, Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Alexander Menzies, Medical Oncologist, Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Royal North Shore and Mater Hospitals, NSW; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Paige Preston, Chair, Cancer Council’s National Skin Cancer Committee, Cancer Council Australia; Prof H Peter Soyer, Chair in Dermatology and Director, Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, and Director, Dermatology Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD; Julie Teraci, Clinical Nurse Consultant and Coordinator, WA Kirkbride Melanoma Advisory Service, WA.

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