Overview
Palliative treatment helps to improve people’s quality of life by managing the symptoms of cancer without trying to cure the disease. It is best thought of as supportive care.
Many people think that palliative treatment is only for people at the end of their life, but it can help people at any stage of advanced ovarian cancer, even if they are still having active treatment for the cancer. It is about living for as long as possible in the most satisfying way you can.
Palliative treatment can slow the spread of cancer, relieve pain and help manage other symptoms. Treatment may include palliative forms of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. If fluid builds up and causes uncomfortable swelling or breathlessness, you may have a procedure to drain the extra fluid from your abdomen or lungs.
Palliative treatment is one aspect of palliative care, in which a team of health professionals aims to meet your physical, emotional, cultural, social and spiritual needs. The team also supports families and carers.
There is still a life to be lived and pleasures to be found and disappointments to be had. Living with advanced cancer is a different life, not just a journey towards death.
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