Cancer Australia

Palliative care is specialised care for people who have a disease that cannot be cured. It focuses not only on helping to control physical symptoms such as pain, but also on emotional well-being, relationships with others and spiritual needs. In later stages, palliative care can also help people prepare for death.

Palliative care includes more than care for people who are dying. It includes care at home or in hospitals, hospices or palliative care units for people whose disease cannot be cured. Any treatment for advanced ovarian cancer that helps to relieve symptoms and improve day-to-day life can be called palliative care.

Who provides palliative care?

A specialist palliative care service may involve a palliative care consultant, a palliative care nurse, a palliative care social worker/counsellor and palliative care volunteers.

The team works with the woman’s specialist, GP and community nurse and other members of the treatment team to provide the best possible care. A GP or another member of the treatment team can provide information about how to access palliative care services.

A specialist palliative care service can provide:

• information about drugs used for pain and symptom relief
• practical support about how to cope with symptoms
• emotional support for the woman and her family/carers.

Find out more about:

• Accessing palliative care
• Questions to ask about palliative care