Your doctor or your most trusted health professional, can help you decide if palliative care is right for you. You and your caregiver can prepare for this decision by filling out the Needs Assessment Tool-Patients & Needs Assessment Tool-Families. This tool will document your needs and those of your family member(s) or caregivers so you can discuss them with your doctor. They will also direct you to the sections in this booklet that can give you more information if you want to read more to help yourself.
If you or your caregiver has identified needs on the Needs Assessment Tool-Patients & Families that, for whatever reason, are not being met under your existing circumstances, palliative care may be a solution.
| Q&A |
Q: What should I do when all treatment has stopped and my oncologist has told me there is nothing more to be done?
A: Palliative treatment can come into play when all curative treatment has stopped and can continue until the very end. Palliative chemotherapy and radiotherapy are commonly used to reduce symptoms, for instance. Your oncologist may still be involved but the palliative care specialist will probably be looking after your overall care.
(Source: Helen Moore, Service Manager, Palliative Care, Calvary Health Care Sydney)
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Life, Hope & Reality was developed and written by Afaf Girgis, Claire Johnson, and Sylvie Lambert with funding from the NHMRC and Cancer Council NSW.
Last updated 30 August 2015