Coping with Advanced Cancer
- What is advanced cancer?
- Is there any information about advanced cancer?
- Can I speak to someone else who is living with advanced cancer?
- How do I cope with my grief?
- How do I tell my children?
- Do I need palliative care?
- Who else can help?
What is advanced cancer?
Advanced cancer is a term that is sometimes used to describe a cancer that has advanced beyond an early stage. Other terms that you may hear include secondary, metastatic, progressive and terminal cancer.
Whatever words are used it can be devastating to hear that your cancer has advanced.
Often, advanced cancer cannot be cured by current treatments. However, treatment can often slow the growth and spread of the cancer and reduce its symptoms. Treatment can keep some cancers under control for long periods, often for months and sometimes for years.
Is there information about advanced cancer?
The Cancer Council NSW booklet Living with advanced cancer (pdf, 959kb) is a booklet that offers general information about advanced cancer, explaining what might happen and what help is available to you and your family, or call the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.
Can I speak to someone else who is living with advanced cancer?
The Cancer Council NSW facilitates a telephone support group for those affected by advanced cancer. This group is facilitated by a trained counsellor who is skilled to manage the grief that you and the other members of the group may be experiencing when cancer is advanced.
Support groups are designed to provide you with the opportunity to explore living with an uncertain future with others who have advanced cancer. See our Support Groups page or contact the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.
How do I cope with my grief?
How I cope with my grief, either as someone diagnosed with cancer and facing an uncertain future, or as someone caring for that person, and want resources to help you manage it, you may find the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement based in Victoria helpful. This website offers links on the world wide web about issues associated with grief, loss and bereavement.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists also provides helpful information on many topics, including about how people normally grieve after a loss, unresolved grief and other sources of information.
Speaking with a qualified counsellor who has experience in cancer can be helpful and assist you and your family members to find strategies to cope with an advanced cancer diagnosis.
You can also speak to a nurse or counsellor on the Cancer Council Helpline Monday to Friday 8am-8pm on 13 11 20.
How do I tell my children?
Talking to your children about your cancer offers useful and important information to support you in speaking to your children about your advancing cancer diagnosis.
Children whose parent(s) have cancer - American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - helpful information about children’s responses to death.
Do I need palliative care?
Palliative care is an approach that improves quality of life for patients and their families facing problems often associated with living with a terminal illness. For answers to frequently asked questions about palliative care go to our Palliative care page.
Who else can help?
- Compassionate Friends, Western Australia. This is a self-help group open to bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents. It offers friendship and understanding to families who are grieving the death of a child, of any age, from any cause. It also offers support and information to relatives, friends and professionals who are helping a family.
- Ever After. This is an on-line support group for widows and widowers with young children.
- Solace. This is a support group for those grieving the loss of a partner with meetings in three suburbs of the Perth metropolitan area. Telephone counselling is also available.
- Lifeline (national). Care in times of crisis. Telephone 13 11 14 for emotional support.
- Lifeline - dads@lifeline.asp supports fathers and their children after separation and/or bereavement. The service has been in operation for over 20 years and provides a relevant, specialised service that is in high demand.
Talking to your children about your cancer has a list of agencies and websites that might help a parent with an advanced cancer.
