Palliative care and cancer

Palliative care means the care and support you might need if you have a life-limiting illness, such as cancer. It is often also called supportive care. This varies from person to person, but it can include:

• help to manage symptoms
• emotional support
• advice about practical problems
• support with planning ahead
• support for the people close to you
• practical nursing and personal care
• care in the last months, weeks or days of life.

People sometimes think cancer palliative care only means care at the end of life. But it means much more than this. For cancer that cannot be cured, you might have palliative care soon after diagnosis. Or at several points throughout your treatment.

Here are some things palliative care for cancer might include.

Palliative care is for anyone living with a life-limiting illness, not just cancer or a certain type of cancer. But if you are looking for information about a specific type of cancer, you can search our A-Z of cancer types. We may have more information about managing symptoms or supportive treatments for some cancer types.

Palliative care services can vary depending on where you live in the UK. They may be organised slightly differently in different places. This can be confusing. It can be difficult to know what is available in your area and what you should be offered.

You can find out how things work in your area by asking your cancer doctor, specialist nurse, GP or another person in your healthcare team. Often your GP or cancer team are involved in your palliative care. For example, they can help with certain symptoms, or support you with advance care planning. They can also refer you to a specialist team if you need more specialist support or care. This might include:

• Hospital palliative care teams - who can visit you if you are in hospital or attending a clinic appointment.
• Community palliative care teams - these are often linked to a hospice. Members of the team can visit you at home or in a care home. Or you may access their support at a hospice day case service or clinic.

Your GP practice is often your first and main point of contact for healthcare. They can tell you about services available in your area. They also often help coordinate and manage your care. This includes any palliative support you might need at different times in the cancer journey.

If you can, it is useful to stay in contact with your GP practice. Tell them if you have symptoms or practical concerns. Ask about anything you do not understand or are worried about. Make sure they know how you are and what is happening. We have more about accessing a GP in our information about navigating healthcare.

The following resources and organisations may also be useful:

• Marie Curie - information and support on all aspects of life with terminal illness, dying and bereavement. Marie Curie services help provide a better end of life for more people, whatever the illness.
• Maggie's - free expert care and support in centres across the UK and online.
• Hospice UK Finder – search for care by postcode, place or organisation name.
• Find palliative care services (England) - search by postcode for services in England.
• Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care - search by area for services in Scotland.
• Find palliative care services (Wales) - search by areas for services in Wales.
• Palliative care services in Northern Ireland - search by Health and Social Care Trust.

"Good care is about the patient and letting the patient have choices. Cancer is complex and sometimes people need more support when they’re at home. It’s just providing that holistic patient care."
Quote from Tracy, a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Barnsley NHS Hospital Foundation Trust

Palliative care includes the care and support a person may need in the weeks and days at the end of life. This is sometimes called end stage palliative care. It should be available whether you choose to be at home or somewhere like a hospice or hospital.

If you choose and are able to be at home, you may need some care or support to help you manage. You might find our information about being cared for at home helpful. People often have questions about what will happen at the end of life. This can be difficult to talk about. But it is important that you have any support and information you need to make decisions and plan ahead.