An important point to make here is that incurable disease is not the same as terminal disease. Click here to watch our ‘Newly Diagnosed’ video. An incurable illness is a disease or condition which can’t be cured, but can be treated and can be lived with: it may not be the ultimate cause of terminal illness / death. Focus is on controlling both the disease and its symptoms - to maintain a good quality of life - in accordance with your wishes. A terminal illness is "a disease or condition which can’t be cured and is likely to lead to someone’s death". Focus is on symptom control, in accordance with your wishes - and treatment to control the disease itself, may not be possible or effective. 'Living well' depends on many things, not least on what your definition of 'living well’ is, what ‘quality of life’ means to you - influences can include: • Your physical health and disease status – grade / stage of cancer, whether you’re having symptoms, undergoing treatment or are having ongoing surveillance, what other health concerns you may have, etc. • Your emotional and mental health – your feelings and sense of self, and how you manage and/or are supported in this. • Your social and familial health – those around you; family and friends, work-colleagues / employers / employees – how much support you have and how much others depend on you and these are often inter-woven.
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