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Advanced Cancer
Revised April 2012
This information should not be used to self-diagnose, or be used in place of a qualified physician’s care.
Sometimes, in spite of the best efforts of the oncologists and other healthcare providers, cancer advances to a point where it can’t be cured. At that time, the goal for treatment has two aims. Treating the patient can help to maintain or improve quality of life and treatment can also be used to extend life as long as possible. The balance between quality and quantity of life should be discussed fully between the patient and their healthcare providers.
Treatment options at this point can include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, other medications and counselling. Other options available can include classes, respite and hospice.
Palliative care and symptom management, which are part of every cancer patient’s treatment, can continue to benefit the patient at this stage of life. Patient and Family Counselling can offer support to patients and caregivers.
The BC Cancer Agency’s website already has many online resources available to cancer patients. Here we try to bring them all together specifically for people concerned about advanced cancer.
Managing Symptoms and Side Effects
Symptoms like pain and side effects like nausea or fatigue, can be very troubling to patients and their families and caregivers.
Nutrition
Metastases (when cancer has moved away from the primary site)
Coping with Cancer
- http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/RecommendedLinks/coping/default.htm Links to websites that can help patients, family and friends cope with cancer. Topics include anxiety and depression, caregivers, chat rooms, children and teenagers with cancer, children and the family, exercise for people with cancer, finances, funerals, grief, home and community care, nutrition for people with cancer, older adults with cancer, support, survivorship, travel, wills, advance directives and legal issues, work issues and young adults with cancer.
- http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/copingwithcancer/emotional/default.htm Each BC Cancer Agency centre has a Patient and Family Counselling department. Feel free to call them with your questions and concerns.
Libraries
There is a library in each cancer centre around the province. Our catalogue is online, and requests can be made online. Library materials can be sent to anyone in B.C. and the Yukon. We have books and videos especially for people nearing the end of their journey, and for their loved ones.
Caregivers
Palliative Care
Home Care and Community Care
Hospice
Financial Information
Advance Care Planning
- Wills help people direct where their money and assets go after they die.
- Surrogate decision makers can help cope with unexpected situations.
- Advance directives (also called living wills) help people plan what will happen to them if they are unable to communicate their wishes to healthcare providers.
Funerals
Grief
Chat Rooms
Families
This information has been reviewed and approved by the head of Pain & Symptom Management - Palliative Care.
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