Supportive care

What is supportive care? (palliative care)

Supportive care is a form of treatment that aims to alleviate the suffering of a patient dealing with a serious illness. Its primary goal is to enhance the quality of life for both the patient and their family. The treatment is designed to relieve pain, and manage symptoms of the disease, and minimize side effects of the medical treatment. Additionally, supportive care aims to reduce the stress and anxiety often associated with the disease and its treatments.

Supportive care helps the patient in all stages of the disease, from the moment of diagnosis, irrespective of the specific medical treatment they receive.The treatment addresses physical symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, nausea, constipation, insomnia, fatigue, and loss of appetite. It also considers mental, social, and spiritual aspects. Some patients continue to receive supportive care to balance symptoms even after they have finished the treatment program and recovered from cancer.

How can you receive supportive care?

The oncologist will evaluate your condition and refer you for appropriate supportive treatment based on your symptoms and individual requirements.  In some units, the referral for supportive care is made at the same time as the referral for the first appointment with an oncologist. The supportive care is included in your oncology form 17, and does not involve an additional payment.

What does a meeting with the supportive care team include?

During the meeting, our first priority is to actively listen to you and your attendant. We'll ask detailed questions about the symptoms causing you distress, including pain, fatigue, exhaustion, and nausea. We will also ask you about thoughts and concerns that may be troubling you, in order to try and understand your emotional state.

We will talk with you about the available treatment options for your symptoms, including medications, procedures, and complementary medicine treatments. We will help you understand the causes of these symptoms and what else can be done to manage them. Discussing your medical diagnosis and treatments can assist in identifying your priorities and understanding how to obtain the necessary assistance.

Based on your requirements, prescriptions for medications, referrals for pain management, or complementary medicine treatments can be provided.  As part of follow-up visits, we will check your progress and update the treatment plan accordingly.

We are in touch with the medical staff taking care of you, and if needed, we can arrange meetings together to talk about your situation and decide on a joint treatment plan.