Palliative care focuses on providing physical, emotional and social support to people with an incurable or life-limiting illness and extends this care to families, friends and carers. There are a wide-range of chronic life-limiting conditions which may require palliative care, including advanced cancer.
Palliative care is delivered by a team of medical and allied health professionals including:
- Your GP
- A palliative care specialist
- Cancer specialists such as medical oncologists, radiation oncologists or haematologists
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Pharmacists
- Dietitians
- Occupational therapists
- Psychologists
As every person’s needs are unique, the palliative care they receive will be different and can change over time. However, the care you receive from your palliative care team may include:
- Relief of pain and symptoms associated with your condition
- Support for families, friends and carers
- Access to resources and equipment
- Counselling and grief support
- Referral to other services
- End-of-life care
