Palliative treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer
The options described in the Advanced pancreatic cancer section are generally considered palliative treatment because their main aim is to improve quality of life by reducing symptoms.
Palliative treatment is one aspect of palliative care, in which a team of health professionals aim to meet your physical, practical, emotional, spiritual and social needs. The team also provides support to families and carers.
Specialist palliative care services see people with complex needs and can also advise other health care professionals. Contacting a specialist palliative care service soon after diagnosis gives them the opportunity to get to know you, your family and your circumstances. You can ask your treating doctor for a referral.
For more on this, see Palliative care and Living with advanced cancer, or call Cancer Council 13 11 20.
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Video: What is palliative care?
Find out how palliative treatment aims to manage symptoms and improve people’s quality of life without trying to cure the disease.
This information was last reviewed in February 2018
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